First National connects to gh-link

First National Savings and Loans Company has signed its automated teller machines (ATMs) onto the “gh-link” portal to enable their customers to use their ATM cards on ATMs of other banks.

The company is part of 25 other financial institutions that are currently on the “gh-link” platform, which is an interbank switching and processing system, interconnecting the systems (switches) of financial institutions and those of third party institutions.

At a ceremony to announce the linkage, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Patrick Anumel, said the reason for joining the universal banking platform was to provide customers of the bank more opportunities to optimise the use of their ATM cards.

That, he said, was a demonstration of the company’s growth and transformation process which had taken an electronic dimension.

The company has been growing consistently since its establishment. The company’s total assets as at June 2013 stood at GH¢261.7 million, with deposits standing at GH¢177.8 million. During the same period, the savings and loans company had given out a total of GH¢118.7 million as loans and advances.

“We believe that by developing more products and improving our services, we shall delight our customers the more and in the process, strengthen their loyalty to the bank and by implication do more business with First National,” he said.

Mr Anumel also hinted that the company would be adding new products before the end of the year to meet the growing needs of customers.

An Assistant Director at the Banking Supervision Division of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Raymond Amanfu, commended the financial institution for being one of the fore runners committed to meeting the increasing needs of their clientele.

He said the “gh-link” would give customers a greater avenue of using their ATM cards.

Mr Amanfu, however, cautioned them to be mindful of the challenges associated with the use of the interconnected platform and do their best to avert any unforeseen risk by implementing control mechanisms in the management of ATMs.

By Jessica Acheampong/Daily Graphic/Ghana