Zenith Bank Ghana steps up staff wellness, SME support and digital lending — MD

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited, Henry C. Onwuzurigbo, says the bank is strengthening its focus on employee wellness, SME financing and digital banking as part of efforts to support business growth and improve customer experience.

He said the bank considers the health and well-being of its employees and customers essential to its overall performance, stressing that a healthy workforce was necessary to deliver strong results.

Speaking during the bank’s 21st Anniversary Health Walk on Saturday, October 31, Mr Onwuzurigbo described the occasion as particularly significant, saying Zenith Bank had moved beyond its maturity stage into adulthood following its 21st anniversary.

He explained that the annual health walk, which brings together employees, customers, directors and other stakeholders, was intended to promote physical fitness, strengthen relationships and encourage a healthier working environment.

According to him, the initiative had gained considerable acceptance, with several branches organising smaller health walks and some customers independently adopting the exercise.

He said the growing participation demonstrated the impact of the programme, adding that it had become an important avenue for promoting wellness and fostering unity among people who might otherwise have limited opportunities to interact.

Mr Onwuzurigbo noted that the demanding nature of banking required energetic and physically healthy employees, adding that the bank would continue to encourage activities that help workers remain fit and productive.

Beyond employee wellness, he highlighted the bank’s efforts to expand financial support for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through tailored products and empowerment programmes.

He cited the SME Fair, introduced as part of the anniversary activities, as an initiative that allows businesses to showcase their products and services. The bank also organises a car show to connect prospective buyers with financing opportunities.

He further disclosed that Zenith Bank had recently organised a virtual SME Empowerment Programme, which was made available on its YouTube platform to help entrepreneurs understand its products and learn from the experiences of beneficiaries.

Mr Onwuzurigbo encouraged business owners with genuine ventures to approach financial institutions for support, explaining that banks could help them structure their businesses and access financing to expand their operations.

He also highlighted the bank’s efforts to reach businesses in different sectors, including traders and farmers in remote communities, through products designed to address their specific financing needs.

On digital banking, he said Zenith Bank had introduced several digital channels to enable customers, particularly corporate clients, to access banking services conveniently without necessarily visiting physical branches.

He disclosed that the bank had also partnered fintech companies, including through an arrangement involving MTN, to provide digital lending solutions.

The partnerships, he explained, use credit-scoring systems to help assess prospective borrowers and improve access to funding for traders and small business operators seeking capital to grow their businesses.

Mr Onwuzurigbo added that the bank had developed products to serve different customer categories, including affluent clients with international travel and other specialised financial needs.

He said Zenith Bank was positioning itself to take advantage of emerging opportunities and provide financial solutions capable of supporting customers through the next phase of economic activity.

He urged individuals and businesses to explore the bank’s range of products and services, expressing confidence in its readiness to support their financial needs and growth ambitions.