Enterprise Bank, one of the nationalised banks, on Tuesday said the recent laying off of some of its workers was in line with the company’s plan to remain competitive in the market.

The bank said it had conducted a resource optimisation exercise meant to ensure the development of a high quality workforce.

This, it said, was in its continued pursuit of the vision to be the preferred bank of choice for value creation through excellent service delivery.

 A statement by the bank said the optimisation exercise, which had led to the disengagement of poor performing staff members from the bank, was to ensure that only the best hands were retained in the system to render above-standard service to its growing clientele and remain relevant in a highly competitive environment.

The key criterion that guided the recent exercise in the bank is the performance record of affected staff members, which spans over a period of time.

According to a statement from the bank, the management will not compromise standards in its avowed desire to ensure that Enterprise Bank emerges as an enviable financial institution.

 However, in line with industry practice and in order to cushion the effect of the optimisation exercise, payments are being made to the affected employees based on their entitlements.

 The statement further wished the erstwhile workers well in their future pursuits.

Meanwhile, the bank said its University Staff Cluster Loan, which was recently introduced, was still available to members of the ivory tower irrespective of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The bank said the loan was designed to avail staff of Nigerian universities (both academic and non-academic) personal loans, which will enable them to bridge financial gaps at discounted interest rates.

According to the bank, the loan is coming as one of the bank’s continual quest to delight customers that are operating in the different strata of the society.

The statement quoted the Head, Corporate Communications, Olusola Longe-Okenimkpe, as saying that the subscribers to the loan would also stand a chance of accessing funds of between a minimum of N250,000 and a maximum of N5,000,000.00, with a repayment period of up to three years.

He said, “Aside from that, the product will allow lecturers, especially, professors, to access the loan even at the age of 65 years.”

One of the unique selling points of the product, according to the statement, is that the subscriber can take the loan immediately ahead of transferring his preferred salary account to Enterprise Bank.

Source: Punch