This is the sixth branch for the bank in the country and the fourth on Mahé.
Seychelles Commercial Bank (SCB) officially opened a branch in Providence at the Providence Industrial Estate on Tuesday, 29 January.
In her address CEO of SCB Annie Vidot said the branch was a long time coming. “Seychelles Commercial Bank is a bank with a large number of account holders. We have over 52 corporate accounts in our books. Our bank has a diversified market whereby we serve both individuals and corporates alike,” said Vidot.
She added that with the new branch opening in Providence that the bank would primarily anticipate to reinforce its capacity to serve the business community. “We acknowledge that the banking industry is becoming increasingly competitive and our presence in this dynamic area of Providence is a very strategic move for our bank as we seek to further grow our customer base and to remain profitable,” said Vidot.
SCB hopes that with this expansion of its branch network that it can contribute positively towards promoting financial inclusion in Seychelles. “We are very confident that our presence here will help build public confidence and trust in Seychelles Commercial Bank,” said Vidot. Speaking to TODAY Business, Vidot said she was elated at the new branch opening. “We are very happy to be present here in Providence. So definitely, I know that our branch will be of good service in Providence,” she said.
Chairman of SCB, Patrick Payet says SCB has embarked on a journey of transformation since 2016 to widen the banks scope, enhance its services and reach out to corporate customers. “The market was studied to examine the feasibility of opening a branch at Providence, the business hub of the island. The aim would be to attract high end corporate clients,” said Payet. The Providence Industrial Estate is divided into various zones, consisting of over 400 businesses of diverse categories, ranging from small, medium and large corporates. “The number of businesses continues to expand as further development takes place. Some of which are going up as we speak now,” said Payet. About one third of the businesses in the combined zones of the Industrial Estate are existing account holders of SCB. “We also take note of the area being the place of employment for many Seychellois as well as foreign nationals,” said Payet.
The branch at Providence is a fully-fledged branch which will provide a one-stop service for corporate clients. Some of the services include opening of business and personal accounts, savings accounts and fixed deposits. ATM services at the bank will be ready in one month. “In just three years SCB has made remarkable progress and has been committed to changing the mindset of the business community so as to be a choice for banking for them. In the banking industry we acknowledge that customer service is the real differentiator between a great bank and an ordinary one. We are those continuously working on training our staff in order to provide efficient, courteous and best-in-class customer service,” said Payet.
With the opening of the Providence branch, SCB also launched a brand “refresh” which comprised of the refinement of its logo and new tagline of Trust, Experience, Grow. “The brand refresh is further more critical in maintaining our relevance in the market, which aligns with the growth strategy of the bank. In today’s competitive environment, we want to ensure that we maintain a vibrant, visual connection with our target market,” said Payet. SCB’s other branches are located at Kingsgate, Orion Mall, Anse Aux Pins, Praslin and La Digue. The bank has made progress in a number of its projects. The bank expects services such as Insurance of International Debit Card, aquiring of ATMs, e-commerce and internet facility will be launched soon.