President  Mwai Kibaki of Kenya  launches the Postbank Xpress Money transfer service. Looking on is Minister for Information and Communications Hon. Samuel Poghisio, Postbank Chairman, Wilson Kinyua and Postbank MD, Nyambura Koigi. Photo- Postbank

Postbank’s star continues to shine. This year, the bank was nominated as Most Innovative Bank of the Year alongside  BIM - Banco Internacional de Moçambique S.A., Mozambique; Diamond Bank, Nigeria; Equity Bank, Kenya and FirstBank of Nigeria,  during the African Bank of the Year Award.

The African Banker Awards, now in its fifth year, is one of the biggest African events during the World Bank meetings. The African Banker magazine, IC, and Business in Africa organised event takes place every year during the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings.

This year, the event brought together about 300 key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to honour the achievements of companies and individuals who have contributed significantly to the reform, modernisation and expansion of the continent's banking and financial system, driving Africa's sustained economic growth in the process.

Postbank is one such company. Established primarily to encourage thrift and mobilize savings, Postbank has expanded its outreach and development of products and services to meet the expectations of its customers.

The bank rolled out a new service delivery system -The New Business Model- that enables the customer to use a Debit Card to transact both at the Point of Sale Terminals and ATM machines, hence paperless banking.

Postbank offers a wide range of  products and services for various target groups such as businessmen, the youth, pensioners and children. The bank  sells stocks at the Nairobi stock exchange on agency basis for individual and household savers; safe custody and international money transfer services such as Western Union, MoneyGram and M-Pesa. Postbank also offers credit access through the Postbank Visa Card. Postbank customers can now access banking services at their convenience by using the SMS banking service.

In its Junior Achievement Job shadow, youths from different schools in Kenya visit the bank to learn more about the working environment and to get a glimpse of what happens around the Business world. The Students in Free Enterprise is another program supported by the bank that encourages college students on business skills and how to become entrepreneurs.

Being ISO 9001:2000 certified, quality of services and high standards are the bank’s hallmark. No wonder,  Postbank's  Managing Director,  Dr. Nyambura Koigi, was named  among Africa's Top 20 Women in FST.

Dr Nyambura Koigi, MD, Postbank

Dr. Nyambura Koigi was honoured in the African Prime Financial Tech News Portal  among Africa's Top 20 Women in Financial Services Technology (FST) under the heading Dreamers, Doers and Drivers. The edition is dedicated to 20 women in Africa who cut through the male dominated FST sector's barriers in innovation - to reshape organization's operations for the better.

Dr Nyambura Koigi has worked in various capacities in the financial sector including banking, business development and information communication technology (ICT). She has extensive training and experience in leadership, project management, product development, ICT and Micro Finance. Nyambura began her career as a systems analyst/programmer. She is a board member of the World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI), and is the President, WSBI Africa Region Group. She has actively served on the Kenya Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Business Advisory Council, and is a member of the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Global Advisory Board in strategic management.

This year, Postbank presented Kshs 50, 000 to Kabarak University SIFE, this year's  SIFE Kenya National Busines

Postbank staff present a KShs 50,000 cheque to Kabarak SIFE

s and Entrepreneurship Competition 2011 Champion that is representing the country in Malaysia.

Nyambura has broadened Postbank’s electronic services platform. Postbank is the pioneer agent of the Western Union financial services international in Kenya. Postbank has also partnered with MoneyGram International transfer service to provide an instant money transfer services. Postbank is also a partner to Safaricom with the aim to offer M-Pesa service, which allows customers to transfer money using the mobile phone.

With representation in almost every town both urban and rural, Postbank is "At Your Service Countrywide."

By Josephat Juma.

The African Executive.