I make sure I
surround myself
with people that
will always see
the positive side of
things whatever the
circumstances are.
GROWING THE SEED
| SARATA KONE
26 •
The Lion King
• July - September 2016
banking industry, there’s only one
locally owned fully private bank the
others qualifying as fully Ivorian are
state owned.
The bulk of the banks in the country
focus on the few top corporate names
that have the best risk profile. The
tier two and tier three banks target
the SMEs that attract higher rates of
12-15% vs 4-6% for the corporate.
How is UBA doing compared to the
competition?
UBA is showing strong performance
and growing, ranking at the thirteenth
place more or less in the middle. We
have positioned ourselves to capture
multinationals within Corporate
Banking, Government Sector whilst
also promoting the South-South
trade and improving our value chain
proposition which is gaining traction
for our retail banking business.
What specific targets are we looking
at, in terms of market dominance?
Added to above response, UBA is in
Cote d’Ivoire to stay and become the
leading bank in the industry. We want
to provide banking solutions to
our clients, within
the best
timeframe
possible.
dedicate my time to them too.
You have to make some difficult
choices, be very well organised
and always be in the moment. I am
working on balancing my life but truth
is I am very far from it! Being back
home makes it easier for sure!
What does a good day mean for you?
Family and friends, work, social life,
are the fundamentals. When you get
a great balance of each in the same
day, it is just wonderful! Signing a great
deal or any event contributing to my
monthly performance makes my day
for sure!
What will make you go to bed smiling?
Lots of things! I have a good sense of
humour and laugh easily. Life is too
short to not laugh at it, so I make sure
I surround myself with people that will
always see the positive side of things
whatever the circumstances are.
Beyond banking, what are you
passionate about?
PEOPLE! I love people I am a very
sociable person and I cannot imagine
my life without my family and friends,
colleagues and all the people
I appreciate. When you take your
time, you may discover that you are
surrounded by so many extraordinary
people than you can imagine!
Becoming a systemic banks is our goal
for a bank and a brand like UBA. We
add value to our clients in building a
long term partnership and excellent
service quality.
What makes UBA CDI unique in Cote
d’Ivoire?
So many things, but the most unique is
our people and they dress impeccably
well thanks to our dress code. We have
clients being very complimentary of
the quality and energy our people
show whilst engaging with them.
Our Digital Bank proposition is also
very unique in this market and the
few products presented are getting
everybody excited. We need to close
on the integration we are now working
on and we will be able to leap frog
closer to the top.
In this global world, having English
speaking staff engagement with
many of the multinational employees
provides a valuable asset that position
UBA in a unique space that we are
using as a leverage to increase our
market share.
Do you have any advice for investors
looking to do business in Cote d’Ivoire?
First of all, you have to study the
business environment very carefully.
Many governmental offices can give
all the advice needed to go through
the complex procedures you will
sometimes have to face.
Secondly, if you need one, choose
the right local partner who can really
be helpful and not only a sleeping
partner.
Thirdly, look for the bank that can offer
the services you need. UBA is very
proud to claim that the services we
provide in this market is the best that
you will find. Through our network of 19
subsidiaries we can assist any business
partner wanting to do business in Cote
d’Ivoire
Looking back at your younger self,
what would you have liked to do
differently?
I have no regrets. Everything I did
brought something to me personally
or to my career. Maybe I should have
come back home a little earlier… But
it wasn’t time just yet.
How do you balance your busy
schedule with family life?
Another magic formula I’ve been
looking for! When it’s time to work I
work and when it’s time for family I
