Retail Banker International, the London-based banking publication that analyses and reports on the retail banking sector, has named Arrie Rautenbach, head of Absa Bank’s retail arm, as “Retail Banker of the year 2012”.
Rautenbach took over the retail arm just over one year ago, and has strengthened Absa’s operating model and market positioning, actively raising his public profile and availability to media. This has led to increased public awareness on the bank’s focus of ease of banking and innovation, while Rautenbach has established a leadership team with a combined experience of more than 100 years.
New offerings include a budget planning tool on the revamped Internet banking site, an app designed for tablets and smartphones and Payment Pebble, a mobile card-reader device that makes accepting payments easier for entrepreneurs.
2012 kicked off with the introduction of Absa Value Bundles which offer customers competitive monthly fees and rebates for taking up multiple products and Absa Transact, a low-cost banking account with no penalty fees – both examples of how the retail arm has brought down costs.
As a result Absa’s Gold Value Bundle was named the best priced bundled offering in the market according to 2012’s Finweek Bank survey. The study also commended Absa’s commitment to pricing simplicity and transparency by noting that changes made to the bank’s fee structures in 2012 were far more user friendly than they used to be and also lowered banking costs for most of the bank’s clients.
The bank will increase its retail client base to 13-million following the acquisition of the Edcon store-card loan book, with the intention of converting these customers into primary Absa clients.
Citing these as some of Rautenbach’s achievements, Craig Bond, newly appointed CE of Absa and Barclays Africa Retail and Business Banking, says: “Customer centricity is a company strategy that requires strong leadership and endless discipline.
“We are proud that Arrie Rautenbach’s stewardship to drive this vision, taken together with his increased rapport and public profile is beginning to come into focus having earned him the honour of being Retail Banker of the Year.”
Says Rautenbach: “Successful leadership development from a build-from-within company is a strategic imperative and a responsibility that I take very seriously for Absa Retail’s current and future success. This will take us from strength to strength.”