LMD Readers’

MOST LOVED BRANDS

Q: How has National Development Bank (NDB) established itself as a trusted brand in the banking sector?

A: NDB’s journey to becoming a valued brand is anchored in a commitment to knowing and addressing the aspirations of our customers. Through decades of consistent performance, ethical banking practices and customer-centric innovations, we have built a reputation for reliability and excellence.

Our strategy stresses personalised service and robust security measures, to ensure the safety of customer data and confidence in our digital solutions. This is reinforced by reactive customer service and introduction of financial products, which meet the evolving needs of individuals and businesses alike.

At NDB, we strive to provide a personalised banking experience through our omni-channel approach, ensuring that customers can access our services seamlessly.

Q: Share the brand’s history, emphasising the last year…

A: NDB has a rich history of over 40 years in the banking sector with nearly 20 years of experience as a commercial bank, taking vast strides in becoming a financial solutions provider.

Our expansion includes the formation of NDB Wealth and NDB Investment Bank, offering a vast range of financial services. In the past year, NDB prioritised enhancing the banking experience of customers.

And our digital platform, NDB NEOS, offers not only retail banking services but also specialised solutions for SMEs and exporters through NEOSBIZ and NEOS Corporate, respectively.

NDB is committed to backing women entrepreneurs, fostering export-oriented businesses and driving digital innovation. These initiatives underscore our dedication to providing superior banking experiences.

Q: How is Sri Lanka’s economic outlook impacting branding and brands in general?

A: In an environment marked by economic uncertainty, brands face the challenge of maintaining stability while adapting to rapid changes.

For NDB, this means enhancing our brand’s communication to focus on resilience, reliability and proactive customer support. We aim to provide stability for our customers, offering flexible solutions to help them manage volatility.

The aim is reinforcing our position as the future of banking. Whether through technological advancements or providing a brighter future for our country, we aim to be seen as a community driven brand.

We are also ensuring that our ‘phygital’ facilities reach our customers, blending physical and digital banking for a seamless experience. As a brand, profitability is not our only focus; we aim to be seen as a sustainable corporate citizen.

Q: In what ways should organisations maintain a balance between investments, innovation, and financial performance?

A: Balancing investment in innovation with financial performance is crucial, particularly in a fluctuating economic landscape. At NDB, we conduct in-depth research and studies to understand market dynamics, allowing us to innovate our products accordingly.

Our investments are focussed on long-term views with the goal of creating value for our shareholders. To achieve this, we balance our investment and innovation efforts.

Our approach to innovation is thorough with research and development aimed at enhancing the customer experience. We invest significantly in developing our digital infrastructure and security aspects to provide a futuristic banking experience.

This includes improving customer privacy and security, and ensuring that our digital platforms are not only user-friendly but also safe and secure. By aligning our decisions with our strategic business goals, we not only drive market differentiation but also contribute positively to our financial health.

Q: How does NDB plan to leverage marketing channels to reach and engage with its target audience?

A: In the last 12 months, NDB underwent a paradigm shift to a futuristic banking proposition, focussing more on our digital channels. Strategically, we aim to drive more content creation and enhance our platform.

To optimise our digital marketing spend, we will leverage AI-based learning, artificial intelligence integration and big data analytics, to ensure maximum impact and efficiency.

This shift signifies our move away from traditional media towards prioritising digital and customer experience. Below the line (BTL) experiences will play a crucial role with one-to-one customer interactions and engagement.

Through a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, we aim to maintain a strong brand presence in the competitive environment, ultimately strengthening our customer relationships.

Telephone: 2448888 | Email: contact@ndbbank.com | Website: www.ndbbank.com