GC Spring 2021 | Page 53

[ S U R V E Y | A G E N T B A N K S I N F R O N T I E R M A R K E T S ]

Central and Southern Africa

This region accounted for 14 % of total responses received for this year ’ s ABFM survey . These covered Botswana , eSwatini ( Swaziland ), Malawi , Mauritius , Namibia , Zambia and Zimbabwe . As in 2020 , Mauritius received the most active ratings – 35 % of the regional total . Apart from being a market in its own right , Mauritius is also a regional hub – for which status it competes with South Africa – and an offshore access point for investment funds into India . As a whole , the region has seen its category ratings improve year-on-year in most areas , and in some cases , such as Relationship Management , quite significantly . All category scores are now in Good range ( 5.00-5.99 ) with Relationship Management and Client Service crossing the threshold into Very Good . In relative terms , Asset Safety and Risk Management prevent the region from beating the overall global average for ABFM . Regional providers continue to gain ground with Standard Chartered Bank and Standard Bank / Stanbic again dominating responses , the former being the only provider to garner sufficient responses for its results to be presented .

Standard Chartered Bank Standard Chartered notes that its regional HUB proposition in Mauritius offers clients the possibility to access 40 footprint markets across Asia , Africa & Middle East and 100 + markets globally . The bank accounts for 55 % of responses received for the Mauritian market . One US client notes that in both Mauritius and Zambia , “ We have strong relationships with the individuals who service our accounts .” Given the fact that Risk Management and Asset Safety are seen as relative areas of concern across the region as a whole , the same client notes approvingly that , “ SCB can be a bit of a stickler on compliance , with regard to continual updates of information . But , ultimately that ' s a protection for us and our clients as well .”
Regional scores Central and Southern Africa 2021 Previous year Difference Account Management 5.89 4.27 1.62 Asset Safety 5.32 4.84 0.48 Asset Servicing 5.61 4.55 1.06 Cash Management and FX 5.06 6.44 -1.38 Client Service 6.05 4.91 1.14 Liquidity Management 5.87 4.83 1.04 Pricing 5.31 4.74 0.57 Regulation and Compliance 5.62 4.86 0.76 Relationship Management 6.37 3.91 2.46 Risk Management 5.32 4.13 1.19 Technology 5.00 4.61 0.39
Market scores Botswana Mauritius Zambia Account Management 5.75 ( 82 %) 6.00 ( 86 %) 6.20 ( 89 %) Asset Safety 5.00 ( 71 %) 5.40 ( 77 %) 6.20 ( 89 %) Asset Servicing 5.20 ( 74 %) 5.83 ( 83 %) 6.40 ( 91 %) Cash Management and FX 4.25 ( 61 %) 5.25 ( 75 %) 5.80 ( 83 %) Client Service 6.00 ( 86 %) 6.20 ( 89 %) 6.40 ( 91 %) Liquidity Management 5.67 ( 81 %) 6.33 ( 91 %) 6.00 ( 86 %) Pricing 4.67 ( 67 %) 6.25 ( 89 %) 5.50 ( 79 %) Regulation and Compliance 5.50 ( 79 %) 6.20 ( 89 %) 6.00 ( 86 %) Relationship Management 6.50 ( 93 %) 6.60 ( 94 %) 6.40 ( 91 %) Risk Management 5.50 ( 79 %) 5.00 ( 71 %) 6.00 ( 86 %) Technology 4.60 ( 66 %) 5.20 ( 74 %) 5.60 ( 80 %)
Provider scores ( Regional )
Central and Southern Africa 2021
Standard Chartered Bank
Account Management 5.89 6.07 0.18 Asset Safety 5.32 5.39 0.07 Asset Servicing 5.61 5.68 0.08 Cash Management and FX 5.06 4.94 -0.12 Client Service 6.05 6.25 0.20 Liquidity Management 5.87 5.85 -0.02 Pricing 5.31 5.55 0.23 Regulation and Compliance 5.62 5.81 0.19 Relationship Management 6.37 6.50 0.13 Risk Management 5.32 5.65 0.33 Technology 5.00 5.00 0.00
Versus regional average
Spring 2021 globalcustodian . com 53