Merger will bring more synergies - Dooso

The merger between Ecobank Ghana and The Trust Bank (TTB), which was officially sealed on Friday June 1, is expected to set the template for future mergers in the banking industry.
In December last year, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of Ecobank Ghana, acquired a 100 per cent share in TTB in a deal estimated at about US$135million.
Board Chairman of Ecobank Ghana, Mr Lionel Van Lare Dooso has said the combination of  the two banks would result in a Ghanaian banking organisation with approximately GHø2.4 billion in total assets and deposits of GHø1.7 billion and a wider network of 78 branches across the country with over 160 ATMs.
Mr Dooso made these remarks at the official unveiling of the rebranding of TTB branches as Ecobank in Accra.
The unveiling he said, was to officially announce that TTB is now a part of the Ecobank chain of branches not only in Ghana but in 34 other African countries.
He added that, “so far, any of our customers who travels or does business in any of those 34 countries, we will be there to serve you.”
Mr Dooso said Ecobnk’s primary goal now was to offer exemplary customer service and a smooth transaction in line with the bank’s mission statement.
“We all share a common mission of ensuring that Ecobank remains strong in Ghana serving individuals, families and businesses during this period of what I call vigorous economic growth in our economy,” he said.
The former Acting Managing Director of The Trust Bank, Ms Emelia Atta- Fynn, later said in an interview that the merger present a bigger platform for more successes.
She said the reconstituted Ecobank will now have a bigger balance sheet to be able to undertake bigger transactions as well as give customers better services and products.
TTB customers, she said would have their ATM cards replaced with Ecobank VISA Debit Card which will give them access to several VISA ATMs across the country.
Responding to how TTB customers are reacting to the merger, she said customers were in tune with the merger as they have been involved in discussions prior to and after the merger.
The Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Mr Samuel Ashietey Adjei, also disclosed that the bank will open three more branches by the end of the year.