In a recent media meet-up, the Chairman of HBL Bank, Mr. Sultan Ali Allana, highlighted how HBL Bank is making waves in the banking industry and has simplified the processes to a large extent. The event witnessed the presence of a number of journalists and proominent figures from business and banking industry.
The Chairman began by sharing his inspiring journey from his personal journey, recounting his experiences with innovative and revolutionary projects that ultimately led to his leadership role at HBL. He expressed gratitude to the mentors he referred to as “Ustaads” (mentors), who played a significant role in shaping his career.
Discussing HBL’s commitment to redefining conventional banking, he highlighted how HBL has transformed conventional banking, ensuring ease and simplifying the overall banking processes for even laymen.
He noted that many people in rural Pakistan struggle to understand complex banking processes and forms written in English.
He noted that in order to understand how HBL can make a difference, he traveled to different parts of the country, mostly rural areas, in order to understand people’s approach towards banks, banking products, and processes. People can’t understand complex details, and a large population in rural areas is unable to understand English, which is quite a challenge.
He said people don’t know what is written on the account opening form in rural areas as they can’t understand the language, so this is why HBL takes pride in being the first Pakistani bank that introduced account opening forms in Urdu, which is understandable by such a population.
He said: We have to sync ourselves with the DNA of the people who work in the bank and the people that we serve; the DNA has to match. He went on to say: “You can’t operate in a market without understanding the DNA.”
The Chairman shared the remarkable journey that the bank had back in the years 2006 and how it has evolved by today.
Today, HBL has more than 1600 branches across the country, and this highlights how it has prioritized customer satisfaction and played its part in streamlining the banking operations for the common people.
Pinpointing out how technology has shaped us today and will most likely shape our tomorrow, he said that HBL is the only bank that invests in technology with an open heart. He said: “We massively invest in technology and surely invest more because we believe in technology.”
During these processes, we brought together many and let many go in the middle of the journey. Hell of a lot of things were done to reposition the bank through the 20-year process; it took a lot of talking.
Sharing his secret of success, he said: People always ask me the secret to success, and I say merit merit and merit. I advise one thing to people: merit should be prioritized because when those who are capable get the roles, things will automatically get settled.”
The Chairman also talked about the projects that HBL came up with which proved to be gamechangers. Projects like Konnect, the bank’s revolutionary app, every second, there are 4 transactions that hit our technology system.
He also revealed the bank’s efforts in microfinance, where loans are approved within eight hours of account opening, with 30% of beneficiaries being women. He highlighted HBL’s commitment to gender equality, noting that 22% of the bank’s employees are women. “We believe that if we don’t bring our women to top positions, we can’t succeed. We need to bring our women into the workforce, and we must encourage them,” he said.
He also said: “I am proud to say that we have actually led the agricultural revolution that you see around the country. We have worked closely with the government in policy making and have also helped them in many aspects. He shared that the bank also provides farmers with machinery that they normally can’t afford, and we give it on a cost basis, and this aids in enhanced productivity. He revealed that the bank is currently working with more than 300000 farmers.
Furthermore, HBL’s impact extends beyond national borders, with initiatives recognized by Princeton University, where three case studies on the bank’s innovative practices are currently being taught.
Concluding the discussion, the Chairman elaborated: “We are not just a bank, we are more than a bank. We are part of the fabric of Pakistan. We are here to serve the people of Pakistan, and we are taking initiatives beyond our borders and boundaries, and this is why we are different.”
Notably, HBL Bank continues to lead with innovation, technology, and inclusivity, solidifying its position as a transformative force in the banking industry.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2024/11/15/hbl-chairman-highlights-banks-mission-to-empower-pakistan-through-technology-and-inclusivity/