Banif Bank’s successful, rapid growth in Malta over the past five years owes much to a dedicated team that has grown with the bank since Banif’s launch in 2008.
The bank’s CSR vision advocates giving young people valuable opportunities
The bank recognises that a strong workforce is the main catalyst of the success of its operations and investing in the team is part of Banif’s growth plan for the immediate future.
In its fifth year of operations, Banif’s plans for 2013 centre on a clear strategy for employee growth and development, with a particular focus on the improvement of soft skills.
There will be tailored training to address particular needs of individuals and departments and training for junior management that empowers employees and equips them with the necessary tools to further their personal and career development.
Internally, the bank boasts several employees with a high level of expertise who can lead training for their peers.
“We are proud to have effective resources internally to conduct training,” human resources manager Madeleine Sammut Dacoutros said. “Many of our managers and heads of departments are experts in specialised areas of banking and finance and Banif endeavours to leverage this experience to the benefit of the larger team. This method has worked well and we’re strengthening this further with ‘train the trainer’ learning.
Regular in-house training is organised for employees across different areas of the bank’s operations to strengthen skills related to commercial, sales, lending, risk, marketing and corporate administration.
External training is ongoing at Banif and many employees attend conferences, seminars and courses regularly. Employees need to keep updated with what’s happening in the industry and the market, and participation in forums and networking events is encouraged.
Banif collaborates closely with several training institutions. The bank has joined other top employers in Malta to use the ETC’s Employment Aid Programme.
The bank is also affiliated with the Institute of Financial Services and participates regularly in the excellent training the institute offers in corporate banking, financial law and risk, among other fields of study.
It also works hand in hand with the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology on student placements. “Banif believes in the potential of students and invests time in mentoring them,” Mrs Sammut Dacoutros added. “The bank’s corporate social responsibility vision advocates giving young people valuable opportunities to test their skills in a working environment, to interact with colleagues on the job, and to gain professional expertise.”
Promising students are sometimes offered part-time or full-time employment opportunities, giving the bank the advantage of identifying the best talent available in the fields of accounting, banking, finance, marketing and IT. Banif also participates in the regulator’s job exposure programme where students are granted a short summer placement.
Since its inception, the bank adopted a collection of initiatives to ensure positive employee experiences, including an open-door policy to facilitate communication, study schemes, retail discounts, insurances and preferential loan rates, among others.
“The bank’s ambition is to strengthen its position as a key player in the Maltese market and as a provider for a full range of banking services” said Mrs Sammut Dacoutros. “We are doing this directly by investing in our people, moving forward together towards a bright future.”