The Executive Head, Corporate and Enterprise Banking at Bank of Africa (BOA) William Boateng has said that COVID-19 despite the disruptions it has come with is teaching the company new ways of doing business and opening their eyes to opportunities technology brings.

According to him, just like other banks, online has become the first option resulting in over 90 percent of the banks operation being enabled digitally.

The bank is also leveraging on its partner banks across the globe to ensure that their clients, whatever their needs, can be served with top notch technology and services. “Bank of Africa is leveraging on its wider network across the globe to facility trade” he said during a virtual conference organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCIFG) on the topic: ‘Banking in a COVID Environment -Dynamics for Corporates, SMEs and Individuals’.

He added that, the bank is designing customer centered business module which has proved to be more efficient as the massive digital drift of services has reveled the many gaps that banks need answers to in the bid to satisfy clients and improve banking services. In addition to this, business advisory services have been enhanced with the number of staff and the channels of communication to help customers stay in business.

Theses measure are to ensure the banks stays in tune with current happens and adopt to the new normal as it is investing in building expertise and capacity of staff. For the bank, this is a period to build trust amongst customers, the general public and all stakeholders.

Mr. Boateng strongly believes that, now more than ever, the country’s Ghana Beyond Aid agenda must materialize: “Forcing countries to look within to meet the demand of the economy is a good thing. It forces us to reinforce the concept of the Ghana Beyond Aide.”

The bank however says its leveraging on its presence across the globe – 18 branches in Africa, 15 out of Africa and its presence in China to enable it support customers.

The Chief Information Security Officer of Bank of Africa Ghana, Philemon Kwame Ankoma also enlightened the participants on how to avoid cyber-attacks during this digital driven banking era and how robust the banks system is against any attack. He said: “BOA-Ghana is certified in ISO 27001 in Information Security Management Systems and ISO 22301 in Business Continuity Management System, which means we adhere to all 114 controls required by the International Organization of Standards.”

He revealed that the bank is equipped with multi factor authentication Google authenticator; it implores the use of virtual keyboard to prevent any form of key logging activities during their sign-ins and also session timeouts Runs on Https. It also issues anti-Skimming Cards which are chip and pin enabled, providing secure transaction for the customer.

He advised customers to be weary of opening unknow websites and especially links that seem to be providing COVID-19 tips as may of them have malwares.

“You need to use strong passwords as well. Don’t be using the names of your children, date of birth etc; they can be easily identified; and also change the strong passwords regularly to stay safe” Mr. Ankoma furher advised.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM