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Banking now more about people than numbers

Thu, 14 May 2009 10:06

If you are considering a career in banking, but are perhaps wary because you think you might spend your days adding up numbers or counting coins, think again.

Banking has changed a lot in recent years, and these days, bankers spend more time talking to people than they do counting the cash.

Carl Fischer, Executive: Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Capitec Bank, says that offering a unique client experience, underpinned by a high level of personal service, is important for the company and informs how it selects the right people.

“Our business building blocks are key influencers in how recruitment and selection activities are undertaken. The focus is on developing good people skills by being transparent and consistent and making things easy to understand.

“We offer several different career opportunities in banking, where we require energetic, confident, natural communicators with a passion for client service.

"Other areas where we recruit are in specialised fields such as IT, human resources and management. These roles are geared to support the business effectively, and to deliver our products and services with a high level of innovation and personal service."

Skills such as numeracy and computer skills are important for a career in banking, but as important are good written and verbal communication abilities, planning and organisational skills, as well as a strong client service and administrative orientation.

Capitec Bank uses technology efficiently to take care of much of the back-office and administrative functions, freeing up its people to spend more time talking to their clients.

As evidence of this focus, three new positions have been created at Capitec Bank purely to drive service.

Says Fischer, “These are senior positions and are critical from both an operational and strategic point of view. Every department within the bank has bought into the service ethic as a key performance area, which means support to the branches and therefore to clients is of the highest priority.”

The three positions – Service Manager: Operations, Service Manager: Business Support, and Service Manager: Group – will establish and implement service standards, measure and monitor processes and drive implementation.

“We’re not looking for number-crunchers – but the right people will have the opportunity to make a huge impact in Capitec Bank,” he said.