Banking

It is no doubt that the entire world awaits celebrations of the World Children’s Day on 01st October every year. World Children’s Day celebrations commenced way back in 1954 and today, it has turned to an internationally recognized event of global importance. Being a pioneer in the banking sector in Sri Lanka, Hatton National Bank Plc. each year has come up with several exclusive programmes to celebrate World Children’s Day. This year with the expression of an innovative range of programmes to raise public awareness of the global importance of the event and to have a firsthand insight into the proceedings implemented in this regard, we made a courtesy call at the Assistant General Manager – Personal Financial Services’s office of HNB Plc; – Mr.R.P.M.Dayawansa.

Hatton National Plc. has up to now, introduced three children’s saving accounts to upgrade the standards of future generation as well as to lure Sri Lankan children towards the habit of saving. These categories include the ‘Singithi Kiriketiyo’ savings account for children under the age of 05 years, ‘Singithi Lama’ savings account for children under 12 years and ‘HNB TEEN’ savings account for the age group between 13 – 18 years. It should be stressed at this point that all three savings accounts mentioned have been designed with the best understanding of the needs of the children of each age group. When a ‘ Singithi Kiriketiyo’ savings account is opened for a child within 03 months of his or her birth, HNB deposits Rs.1000.00 in the newly opened account. Besides, when a ‘Singithi Lama’ account is opened within 03 months of the enrolment of the child to grade one of a school, HNB deposits 50% of the total sum deposited subject to a maximum deposit of Rs.1000.00.

Encouraging children towards the habit of saving through the HNB’s jumbo tills has been a great success. Currently, more than five hundred thousand jumbo tills have been distributed. It is a pleasure to state that all these services could be obtained from any branch of HNB island wide.

‘Singithi Kiriketiyo’ is a savings account scheme for newborns. The ‘Singithi Kiriketiyo’ account can be opened within three months of the baby’s birth by parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles in favour of the baby with an initial deposit of Rs 1,000. At the time of opening the account the bank in return will deposit another Rs 1,000 in to the baby’s account. In addition to this every ‘Singithi Kiriketiyo’ account holder is offered an attractive baby record book. The’Singithi Kiriketiyo’ account will earn an attractive interest rate of 7% which is higher than the interest rate offered on a normal savings account.

As an added bonus the Kiriketiyo account will be a part of a five year birthday gift scheme where the baby will be presented with fabulous gifts up to the fifth birthday.

All Kiriketiyo accounts will automatically be converted to Singithi Lama Accounts after the fifth birthday of the child, thus giving them the added benefits offered through Singithi Lama accounts.

‘Singithi Lama’ is a savings account that can be opened for any child below 12 years of age with an initial deposit of Rs 500. Through the Singithi Lama account the child will be offered a host of benefits which include guaranteed gifts, loans to purchase computers and the eligibility to qualify for the biggest prize draw in Sri Lanka, Pathum Vimana. The gifts offered are HNB jumbo tills, water bottles, school bags and wrist watches. The value of the gifts offered will grow with the account balance in the savings account.

HNB also maintains students’ savings units with the objective of encouraging students towards the habit of saving while in school. The programme was initiated in 1996 at Royal College, Colombo. Currently, HNB savings units are maintained in 166 schools throughout the country offering firsthand experience and training for students on maintaining fair and reliable transactions with a bank. Several selected students of the G.C.E. A/L stream at schools where HNB savings units exist, have been appointed as Savings Managers and are trained on Banking and Management via various workshops. This also adds to their eligibility in the employment market. In the meantime, it is also expected to improve these students’ personality and communication skills through ‘Extra Activity training Workshops’ programme which will be implemented island wide and will commence on 03rd October 2012. Besides, the bank also offers a number of financial services to the teachers and assists the development and various activities of the schools where HNB savings units are maintained.

Under the ‘Nena Pubuduwa’ programme initiated in 2005, a number of rural schools in the country have been facilitated with an innovative library project. Under the project, the bank constructs the library building, donates books and also renews the donations of books each year. Currently, more than 175 school libraries have been constructed. Besides, programmes on establishing Information Technology Laboratories at these schools have also been implemented.

HNB launched an exclusive educational programme with the participation of educational experts that included teachers and lecturers to assist students who sat for this year’s grade five scholarship examination through television, radio and the internet. Accordingly, HNB has launched a number of programmes aiming prosperity of the future generation. With such objectives as prime initiatives, HNB invites to encourage the future generation of Sri Lanka towards the habit of saving, at the same time contributing to upgrade the financial savings percentage of the country.

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