customer issue volume 8 guardian news...jun 08, 2020 · guardian bank is leveraging on technology...

1 Guardian News︱MAY 2020

JUNE 2020

Customer Issue Volume 8

Message From Our Deputy General Manager

Guardian NewsBanking Focused on You

Lorraine Miranda“Leave a little sparkle wherever you go”

Dear valued customers,“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful” Joshua J. Marine.

This iconic quote resonates perfectly at this moment in time, when we are all challenged to be our best selves. When things seem the hardest, we human beings find the tenacity and inner resources to take on anything and power through with courage & faith. These difficult times give us the opportunity to look inward, reflect on what truly matters, and connect with ourselves and our dear ones on a deeper level.

I hope this finds you, your loved ones and your work teams safe & well. As the coronavirus pandemic touches all our lives, we must acknowledge that we are truly in unprecedented times. This is a situation that is changing moment by moment, country by country. Yet the strength and resilience of people around the world gives me great confidence that we will get through this ordeal together.

Our hearts go out to anyone who has been impacted by the virus, either directly or indirectly. Our thoughts are especially with those who are sick, to whom we extend our heartfelt wishes for a full recovery. We are truly inspired by the selfless healthcare workers around the world who are on the front lines working

tirelessly to care for people in need.

While all our businesses are in uncharted territory and we navigate the rapidly changing environment, we are guided by our institutions core values – Integrity, Drive, Respect & Innovation – in everything we do.

Banks are considered essential businesses and we remain available to serve you. We have an amazing team across the Bank, that we are truly proud of and grateful to for their dedication. We have made adjustments to ensure seamless and uninterrupted service during these challenging times and continue to work on ways to improve our services and products.

During this period, nothing is more important than our collective ability to ensure the health and safety of our employees, families, customers and community at large. We have initiated internal plans to control the potential spread of this virus and implemented specific precautions in line with the recommendations and guidelines of various authorities to ensure continuity of our business operations and to provide a secure environment for all concerned.

We are here for you and keen to know how you are doing. Feel free to call us, as we are always glad to hear from you. You can also access your accounts and services via ATMs & our mobile application M-Guardian.

This is a point in time like no other that shows us we are all connected like never before and are called upon to rise in solidarity, with patience, understanding and compassion. Everywhere I look, I see people caring, musicians bringing concerts to rooftops, or people going out of their way to help save lives. There are stories of generosity, both on the personal level and of companies, NGO’s and countries sending aid to others in distress….A million and more acts of kindness every day. While the global population continues to battle the ongoing pandemic, Planet Earth has been healing. The worldwide slowdown in human activity has had a number of positive effects on the environment, and significant reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions has led to clear blue skies over the world’s megacities which has become a visible mark of the pandemic and is a big lesson for us humans to mend our ways. We have been forced to pause, slow down, reflect and appreciate the little things in life. We now have ample time to think and decide on our actions once the crisis is over. Do we want to rush to go back to where we were and have an accelerated return to business as usual or will we choose to make lifestyle changes for a better, cleaner future for ourselves and the planet?

On behalf of all of us at Guardian Bank, we would like to assure you that we are committed to being your partner and standing together in the days ahead and years to come.

Thank you for being a part of the Guardian family. Stay safe and take care.

With warm regards and best wishes.

2 Guardian News︱JUNE 2020

Guardian Bank is leveraging on technology to improve customer experience.

The M-Guardian Mobile Banking App provides convenience at your fingertips.

Download our app via Google play or App store to access the services or simply dial *356# to be able to explore a world of payments.

M-Guardian offers you great features:

• Registered Safaricom users can access the services by dialling *356 #

• Payment to selected schools & universities, churches, hospitals & other merchants

• Utility Bill payment for Nairobi Water postpaid, KPLC postpaid & prepaid, DSTV, Zuku, GOTV, StarTimes, Airtel postpaid, Orange postpaid, Jamii Telkom, Access@Home

and other services to be included in the future

• Transfer of money from your Guardian Bank Account to M-pesa and from M-pesa to your Guardian Bank Account via our Paybill no: 344500

• Access to Account Balances, Mini Statement, Internal Fund Transfers and Pesalink

• Purchase of airtime of Safaricom, Airtel and Orange (Pin and Pinless option)

Kenya Banking Industry Response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)(Excerpts from the message of the Chairman of the KBA)

Nairobi 19th March 2020 - The banking industry through the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) has adopted guidelines towards ensuring the safety and security of bank customers, employees and other stakeholders during this unprecedented time when the country responds to

the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). These standards are informed by global best practice and have been developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Amref Health Africa (Amref) to ensure the well-being of Kenyans.

Furthermore, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Kenya, banks have come together to adopt measures that will help cushion the banking public. Banks are putting in place the modalities to implement these timely measures, which we believe give our customers reassurance and a level of stability as we all come to terms with how COVID-19 will impact our lives.

KBA encourages banks and the banking public to go cash light through the use of debit cards, mobile banking, and internet banking. To facilitate increased use of mobile or digital platforms, all charges for transfers between mobile money wallets and bank accounts have been removed for 90 days. With access to numerous digital banking options, we hope to reduce instances of customers, staff and suppliers coming into contact with COVID-19 within our branches.

Every year, the banking industry conducts a Kaa Chonjo safety awareness campaign. Customers should never click on links within emails from unverified sources, never respond to unsolicited SMS messages, and never provide their financial information to unverified callers.

Banks have operated in this country for over a century and over time we have witnessed many industry, economic and national events that have strained our system but ultimately result in a stronger and more committed banking industry. We are here to serve our fellow Kenyans and we couldn’t be more dedicated to the national call to action that we must together overcome the COVID-19 threat. Towards this end, we will remain open and ready to serve you.

The specific steps and measures that we have taken to safeguard you as part of the Guardian family, to ensure your banking experience remains seamless with us are as follows:

1. We have availed hand sanitizers at entry points in all our branches and head office and request all to sanitize their hands when entering the premises.

2. We are conducting non-contact thermal temperature tests at the entry points of all our branches and requesting staff/customers to refrain from entering the premises if his/her reading is 38 degrees Celsius and above.

3. While in the Bank premises, we are requesting all to keep their masks on and maintain social distancing of at least one meter between themselves, other customers and staff.

4. Our staff at the counters have been provided with masks and gloves while serving you.5. All high touch points such as counters, desks and door handles are constantly disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus.6. We encourage you to minimize handling of cash as far as possible – we are also taking measures to ensure that cash received over the counter

is used for payment only after 7 days, by which time, the virus, if any, on the notes is hopefully destroyed.7. We have waived charges on all mobile money transactions through M-pesa to load your mobile wallets and transfer money from your mobile

wallet to your Guardian Bank Account until further notice. We highly encourage you to take advantage of our M-Guardian Mobile Banking platform to access M-pesa and Pesalink Transfers.

“It is not what technology does to us, it is what we do to technology. Get smart with technology, choose wisely and use it in a way that benefits both you and those around you” - headspace.com

STAY CALM and use Mobile Banking – M-Guardian


Appreciation is a wonderful thing. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou

The annual week-long event was marked from 7th to 11th October. This is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. The week was filled with pomp and glamour for both external and internal customers where all enjoyed goodies and celebrated the “Magic of Service”. The Bank took the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate its customers for journeying with us and their support over the years.

Customer Service Week 2019 – “Behind the Smile”

Appreciating our staff for the hard work and dedication they put into their contribution to the growth of our Bank.

Employee of the Month - January 2020 was awarded to George Mbugua for an innovative idea.

Employee of the Month - February 2020 was awarded to Daljeet Hunjan for fully embracing the banks culture & values and having the right attitude.

We take pride in working as a family and recognize staff and their immediate family members for outstanding achievements.

On 22nd February 2020, two young achievers were invited to the Head Office and were awarded for their achievements as below:

Angela Wachira – Represented Kenya in the 14th WESPA Youth Cup 2019

Azaan Merchant – Participation in the Federation of Target Archery Kenya 2020 (FTAK)

Employee of the month Guardian Bank Family – Achievers Awards


This year, Guardian Bank took their annual staff party a notch higher. The elegantly dressed staff were welcomed with colorful fruit cocktails in to an exquisitely decorated hall that set the perfect ambience for a fun filled evening. Our well-coordinated

emcees and DJ maintained a high spirited mood throughout the unforgettable evening and all enjoyed the great food and music.

As is tradition, the results for the best branches and outstanding manager for year 2019 were announced and this was followed by recognizing staff who had not only completed 10 years of service with the Bank but a special recognition was this year extended to acknowledge and appreciate staff of the Bank who have served 20 years or more with the Guardian Bank Family. Long Service Awards were given out by the Chairman himself to 21 members of staff at the annual party – what an honor for all as they were welcomed to the “DMC Founder Members Club”

Annual Staff Dinner Party & Awards Ceremony

And the winners of the year 2019 were

The exquisite hall set up

Mr. Hetul ChandariaExecutive Director

Trophy’s and awards Mr. K.R. SahasGeneral Manager

Our Emcees for the evening Ms. Christine &

Mr. George

Ms. Lorraine MirandaDeputy General Manager

Best Branch Manager Best Branch Runner Up Branch

Mr. G. S. MatharuEldoret Branch

Nyali Branch – Award received by Branch Manager - Ms. Beejal Jethwa

Nakuru Branch – Award received by Branch Manager - Mr. Kirit Chauhan

The CEO of the Bank, Mr. N. Sabesan was given a special recognition plaque and trophy for his unstinted support, dedication and passion over the last 20 years bringing Guardian Bank to where it stands today.

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards its achievement” - Bo Bennett


Memories are Special moments that tell our story

“Life should not only be lived, it should be celebrated”

The staff had a little surprise in store for him and he made a very touching speech thereafter.

Congratulations to our Executive Director Mr. Hetul Chandaria on his 40th Birthday

The prize for the Best Dressed lady & gentlemen for the evening

Ms. Esther Mr. Makau


To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development and we support this cause with the aim to help eliminate gender and wealth disparities and achieve access to quality education for all. This in turn enables self-reliance, boosts economic growth through skill enhancement and further helps improve people’s lives by opening up opportunities for better livelihoods.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, a majority of countries announced the temporary closure of schools, impacting more than 91 per cent of students worldwide. By April 2020, close to 1.6 billion children and youth were out of school. And nearly 369 million children who rely on school meals needed to look to other sources for daily nutrition. Never before have so many children been out of school at the same time, disrupting learning and upending lives, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized. There is now more than ever a great and urgent need to protect the well-being of children and ensure they have access to continued learning.

CSR is an integral part of our business culture. We aim to achieve a balance between economic growth, social well-being and the protection of the environment. In line with this we have chosen to focus on 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. Creating a sustainable world and reaching economic, environmental and social goals depends on having a thriving and healthy human population. By focusing on providing more efficient funding of health systems, improved sanitation and hygiene, and increased access to physicians, significant progress can be made in helping to save the lives of millions. Health emergencies such as COVID-19 pose a global risk and have shown the critical need for preparedness.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” - Nelson Mandela

Our contribution back to society

Our Commitment To You

Mombasa and Nyali branch teams visited 2 schools in Voi, spent quality time with the childrenand donated various school & stationery items.

The Mombasa Road team visited Mary Immaculate Clinic Mukuru and donated various food and stationery items.

Guardian Bank’s contribution to sustainable development - Quality Education


Members of the Biashara team shared food with the less fortunate on the streets of Nairobi.

The Westlands team conducted an Uji Drive at Dr. Ribeiro’s School for the Handicapped in Parklands

Christmas is a time for giving and sharing, and in this spirit the Guardian Family visited the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Children’s Cancer Unit MTRH, Eldoret to share toys, food stuff and various other items. Contributions were made towards the NHIF Scheme to cater for those children in need of medical assistance. You too can donate to this worthy cause at Kshs. 12,000/- per child which ensures the child’s medical needs are attended to for one year.

Commemoration of World Food Day

Providing a helping hand for those ailing with Cancer

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” - Robin Sharma


A National campaign to sensitize people in an effort to limit the spread of the deadly virus. KBA took up the campaign with great enthusiasm with an aim to reach over 20 Million Kenyans through the Banking industry and the platforms we use to try and contain this pandemic.

Tips for coping during these COVID-19 times

#KomeshaCorona - “Together, we can beat Corona” #GoDigitalBanking #SecureBanking

We’re in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, with cities and even entire countries shutting down and all of us are watching the headlines and wondering, “What is going to happen next?”

For many people, the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle. We don’t know how exactly we will be impacted or how bad things might get. Here are a few tips to help you manage during this crisis and things that we can be thankful for.

• Stay informed but don’t obsessively check the news - Stick to trustworthy sources and limit how often you check for updates. Be careful what you share. We all need to do our part to avoid spreading rumours and creating unnecessary panic. Follow recommendations from health authorities and the government.

• Accept the situation for what it is and create a new routine, replace old unhealthy habits with new habits. It can be helpful to remember that we’re trying to find a balance to accept uncertainty and discomfort while staying positive.

• Take care of your body and spirit – Eat healthy, take up a relaxation activity and find ways to exercise. Staying active will help you release anxiety, relieve stress, and manage your mood. You can stretch, walk, jog or do some yoga for at least 30 minutes daily. Get plenty of sleep as this helps support your immune system.

• Bond with those who really matter in your life.

• Lean on your existing “I can do it” skills and learn a new skill like cooking or gardening, or take an online course - use technology as a lifeline.

• Focus on the things you can control and let go of the rest. Through a positive attitude, turn downtime into quality time with the family, figure out what makes you happy and do it as much as possible. The pace of daily life has temporarily slowed down. No better time to embrace the comforts of home!

• Social distancing doesn’t have to be isolation, stay connected. Physically separating ourselves from most family and friends is a short-term step to achieving a noble common goal. Focus on nurturing and guiding the younger generations, in addition, continue to seek out connections through alternate means, like frequent phone calls. Be a calming influence on others.

• Be kind and help where you can - At times like this, it’s easy to get caught up in your own fears and concerns. However helping others not only makes a difference to your community but even to the wider world. It’s no coincidence that those who focus on others in need and support their communities, tend to be happier and healthier than those who act selfishly. Doing kind and helpful acts for others can help you regain a sense of control over your life as well as adding meaning and purpose.

• Be grateful for what you have. The practice of gratitude helps us become more optimistic. Research on gratitude has shown that it just might be the single most powerful method for increasing our well-being. It’s also free. No need to complicate the process – keep it simple - just take note of all the things that make you smile throughout the day, even if it’s for a fleeting second. Some random things you can be grateful for may include – a flower blossoming in your garden, the gift of time to spend with the family, learning something new, our jobs and that we can work from home, cleaner air.

• Appreciate the positive effects this has had on our Mother Earth – as highways have cleared, air traffic reduced and factories closed, drastic improvements have been seen in air pollution levels and for the first time in decades in some urban areas they are waking up to the sweet sounds of birds chirping. We can see our very own majestic snowcapped Mountains, Kenya and Kilimanjaro from Nairobi. Our Earth is beautiful, let this be a wakeup call for us all to be more conscious of our actions and play our part in protecting and preserving our planet for our own health and for the generations to come.

• Remember you’re not alone. We’re in this together and giving back to the greater good. Know it’s not forever. While we’re unsure precisely how long this time period will last, it certainly will have an end. As a quote circulating in Italy reminds us: “We’re standing far apart now so we can embrace each other later.”

“Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow” - Seth Godwin

9 Guardian News︱JUNE 2020“Memories are timeless treasures of the heart”- Anonymous

A Picture has the magic to make a moment last for ever


Guardian Bank Credit Product Offerings

Dr. M. M. Chandaria together with the Senior Management,Branch Managers and Heads of Departments.

At Guardian Bank we understand your needs, and as a dedicated, loyal and caring partner, we have a bouquet of credit facilities to cater for both your personal and business requirements.

We prefer to keep things simple & transparent and we have a team of dedicated staff who provide personalized service and go the extra mile to give you the necessary advice and ensure all your business needs are taken care of. Allow us to open your mind up to obtaining Finance, “the simple way.”

Trade FinanceThis refers to simply facilitating and financing trade activities both locally & internationally. Throughout the trading chain, businesses find themselves in need of a variety of solutions, this is where we come in with a “finance solution”. Below we showcase the solutions we offer at all stages of your trading activities. We guarantee efficient swift transmissions in all major currencies for the following:

Sourcing/ Supply Stage (Non-funded)GuaranteesBondsLetters of CreditDocumentary CollectionsBill Avalisation/Co-acceptance

Financing Stage (Funded)LPO, LSO & Contract Financing

Pre/ Post-shipment Financing

Invoice Discounting

Import finance

Simply put, in order to improve production capacity of your business, you require procurement of assets. These upfront investments sometimes seem unreachable; with our Asset Finance facility, you can gain access to resources for the acquisition of moveable and identifiable assets that include office equipment, specialized machinery, agricultural equipment, industrial equipment and medical equipment.

Demand LoansA simple and straight-forward way that your business can borrow money today and yet pay it over an extensive period of time. Yes, you heard us correctly, this facility is suitable for needs such as working capital and we offer you demand loans giving your businesses the ability to increase capacity and capabilities.

Hire PurchaseAll you have to do is simply identify a motor vehicle of your choice for your personal use or for your business, pay us a visit and we will make your journey of purchasing your dream car/commercial vehicle a reality in an easy and hassle free manner.

Insurance Premium FinanceAn insurance premium is the amount of money that you or your business must pay to get the benefits of an insurance cover to ensure your assets are well protected. Normally, this premium is paid upfront and can amount to a hefty figure. We offer you and your business a simple Insurance Premium Financing solution at a very competitive price allowing you to enjoy the benefits of insurance upfront as you pay it back in manageable instalments thereby eliminating the need for you to pay the lump sum premiums.

OverdraftsIf you are struggling with working capital needs or you have an urgent short-term obligation to meet – simply visit us at any of our branches and we will offer the working capital finance that your business requires or a short term working capital finance that enables you to draw more funds than are available in your account. Doesn’t that sound simply incredible!

(All credit facilities are governed by the prudential guidelines of CBK and the Bank’s own credit policy)

“Making life simple for you”


Technology is barrelling through our hands at an unbelievable pace. This is good for productivity and progress, but it makes us vulnerable to cyber-attacks. We think we could never fall prey to scams, but they can happen to anyone. Fraudsters target you when you least expect it and will try to reach you or obtain your personal information via email, phone or SMS. This is known as social engineering.

At Guardian Bank, your security is our priority. Stay one step ahead of fraudsters with these tips:

• Never give out your banking details on phone. Guardian Bank will never ask for your PIN or password. When asked for any other personal or banking information, always verify the requester’s identity by calling them via their official published contact numbers.

• Protect your cards at all times, they can be cloned in an instant. Guard your PIN at ATMs and payment terminals.

• Never respond to emails that ask for your banking details or click on links from unknown sources or unfamiliar websites that request for your banking details. These links could be phishing scams that may contain malwares designed to access personal or financial information on your device.

• Set strong passwords and never share them. A strong password is at least eight characters in length and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Know the various types of scams:

• Phishing Email Fraud - Emails purporting to be from the bank or another reputable company containing links that request for or access your personal information when clicked.

• Phishing Telephone Fraud - Calls pretending to be from banks, phone or delivery companies asking for personal information.

• Smishing SMS Fraud - SMS texts from unknown numbers containing suspicious links and purporting to be from the bank or another reputable company in order to bait individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords.

Remember that the first line of defence in protecting yourself against fraud is you.

REPORT any incident by notifying the bank immediately if you suspect that you are a victim of fraud.

To report a fraud, please email [email protected]

Safe guarding you against fraud

“Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless”


Although the Editorial Team has taken due care and caution in compilation of data, it does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information.

Editorial Team, Lorraine Miranda and Zohreen Jeraj. Send us your feedback & comments to [email protected], [email protected]

This newsletter is the property of Guardian Bank Limited which is regulated by the Central Bank of KenyaWWW.GUARDIAN-BANK.COM

customer issue volume 8 guardian news...jun 08, 2020 · guardian bank is leveraging on technology...

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