As part of efforts to foster a cashless economy by encouraging the adoption and preference for card transactions in the Nigeria, Diamond Bank PLC has concluded plans to participate actively at the 2009 CardExpo Africa.
The Bank will be participating as a Platinum Sponsor at the event billed to hold in Lagos from June 16 to June 18, 2009 and will have an exhibition stand at the three day event.

Mr. Charles Udoh, Head Corporate Communications of the Bank, affirmed that the current sponsorship is in line with the Bank’s avowed interest in evolving customer service solutions through the application of technology to banking. He noted that from inception, Diamond Bank has remained an advocate of technology driven processes and procedures, adding that it was not surprising that it is sponsoring the CardExpo.

“We were among the first financial institutions in the country that introduced on_line_real time banking in 1992 when we launched our virtual banking platform; the Diamond Integrated Banking Services (DIBS). The same feat was repeated in 1996, when we introduced Diamond Savings Gold Card, which availed our numerous customers’ access to their funds at any of our branches, nationwide,” he stated

Udoh further explained that some of the Bank’s products featuring at the exhibition include Diamond Visa Credit Card product which has been a major success and stands out in the market place as the Real Naira Credit Card. It comes in 3 variants_ classic, gold and platinum and the only Naira denominated credit card in the country. Its credit limit is linked to monthly salary amount. It has a reward scheme and minimum monthly payments of only 5 per cent.
According to him, others are the DiamondMobile and DiamondOnline Money Transfers which enable customers of the Bank perform basic banking transactions with their mobile phones and through the internet.

“Diamond Bank supports the objectives of the CardExpo Conference/exhibition which among others is to call the attention of Africa and the global industry to the emerging development and requirements of e_payment option in the market. This is critical to us in the Bank because there is a growing need to drive up the demand and usage of cards in the country which we strongly believe will reduce dominance of cash transactions in Nigeria,” he stated.

Udoh said that going by the organizers view, CardExpo Africa 2009 will highlight all the real, relevant and unique issues with a view to developing a blue print for a clear pathway on cards and channels in Africa. Thus the theme “e_Channel strategy: e_payment in a Global Recession”.