Business
Seven Banks Rake In N403.6bn From Fees, Commissions
Seven deposit money banks in Nigeria generated the sum of N403.6 billion in nine months from fees and commissions, financial statements of the banks for the third quarter of this year have revealed.
This amount is 24.7 per cent higher than the N303.9 billion recorded in the same period of 2020 by the banks.
The banks are Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited, United Bank of Africa Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The N403.6bn was arrived at after aggregating the net fee and commission income.
Fees and commissions account for a significant percentage of non-interest income for banks, and represent income from account maintenance fees, electronic banking fees, and other credit-related commissions.
Net fee and commission income is the actual revenue generated from these charges after expenses incurred from providing the services have been deducted.
Access Bank raked in a total of N88.9 billion as against N71.8 billion generated during the same period in 2020.
The bank’s financial report also showed that it made N16.2 billion from account maintenance and handling commission, and the sum of N46.3 billion from channels and other e-business fees.
During the review period, Zenith Bank made N65.1 billion from fees and commissions, 47.2 per cent higher than the N44.2 billion generated in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The bank made N24.2 billion from current account maintenance and N23.9 billion from fees on electronic products.
UBA generated N110.9 billion, N25.9 billion higher than the N85bn made in the nine-month period of 2020. It made N7.1 billion from account maintenance charges and N41.9bn from e-business fees.
Stanbic’s net fee and commission revenue of N60.9 billion rose by 13.1 per cent from the N52.9 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2020.
Account maintenance fees accounted for N3.7 billion while electronic banking charges accounted for N2.5 billion of the total fees and commission income.
According to the financial statement of GTB, N51.8 billion was generated between January and September from fees and commissions, a N19.1billion jump from the revenue recorded in the same period of 2020.
The bank disclosed that the sum of N13.1 billion was generated from account maintenance fees while e-business fees produced N15.6 billion.
Union Bank raked in N10.3 billion from fees and commission in the period under review. Account maintenance fees accounted for N1.7 billion while electronic bank charges contributed N6.7 billion.
Fidelity Bank generated a total of N15.7 billion in the three quarters, rising by N5.6 billion in the same period a year earlier.
The bank made N2.8 billion from accountant maintenance fees and N6.7 billion from e-business fees.
On January 1, 2020, the apex bank ushered in a new regime for bank charges. The changes to its guidelines mostly affected things like card maintenance fees, charge for hardware tokens and the amount that can be paid for electronic transfers.
In a circular dated December 20, 2019, the CBN placed N2,500 as the maximum cost for a hardware token.
It also said that bills payment including bills payment through other e-channels should cost a maximum of N500, and gave a range of costs for electronic funds transfer.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter