Expanding its ability to serve an even broader spectrum of customers, Sri Lanka’s largest retail bank HNB PLC opened a specialized banking unit at the newly-established University Hospital Kotelawala Defence University (UHKDU), Werahera.
A special ceremony hosted at the premises to celebrate the launch of the new banking unit was attended by senior officials from HNB and UHKDU including KDU Vice-Chancellor Major General Milinda Peiris, University Hospital Executive Director Dr. Jayan Mendis, University Hospital – Director Administration Brig. Jayantha Balasooriya, University Hospital – Director Medical Services Brig P.S. Thilakaratne, University Hospital – Internal Auditor Brig. D.W.C. Perera, University Hospital – Deputy Director Medical Services Captain A.H. Mullegama, Senior Consultant Oncologist Prof. Jayantha Balawardena, HNB Deputy General Manager – Retail and SME Banking Sanjay Wijemanne, HNB Head of Network & Business Development Supun Dias, HNB Head of Personal Financial Services Kanchana Karunagama, and HNB Regional Business Head – South Western Region, Mahinda Seneviratne.
“While we have been aggressively broadening our digital banking services, we are equally aware of the importance of maintaining a well distributed network of customer touch points. Our specialised UHKDU banking unit will embody this hybrid approach to banking that blends sophisticated digital services with deeply personalised and friendly customer service. In this manner we will offer healthcare workers, students, and visitors the best banking services in the country,” HNB Deputy General Manager – Retail and SME Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne said.
In recognition of the invaluable service provided by healthcare workers, HNB will offer a range of special banking services and packages to in-housing and visiting doctors at UHKDU, including personal loans, leases, and housing loans at special interest rates. As the nation’s most preferred bank, HNB will also offer emergency loans and related financial support facilities to the patients at the hospital complex, through the installation of paying wards.
Additionally, HNB will also ensure that special prominence is given to education loans to cater to the needs of the medical students enrolled at the UHKDU. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the ease with which students can pursue higher education and finance their training at the University Hospital.
Improving the banking experiences of customers in the area, the new Customer Centre will also feature an expansive scope of financial and digital banking solutions, including cash operations, clearing, personal lending, and the issuance of credit cards. Open for business every working day from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., the state-of-the-art branch is designed to offer a new paradigm in banking convenience for customers in the area.
Located in Werahera, facing the Colombo-Horana main road, the University Hospital at Kotelawala Defence University is a contemporary hospital complex featuring the latest in technological medical practices.
With 252 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. Over the recent past, the bank was ranked among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020. The bank further won the Award for the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 11th time at the Asian Banker Awards 2020, in recognition of its sustainable growth and continuous improvements in processes, products and services amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment.