Nations Trust Bank PLC reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement as its Lean Transformation team conducted its successful 6th Lean Six Sigma Graduation in June 2022. The event saw 29 ‘Change Makers’ graduate successfully, having completed Yellow Belt and Kaizen requirements and demonstrating structured problem-solving techniques and tools that created quantitative and qualitative benefit to the bank, to qualify for graduation.
The Bank first introduced the ‘Lean’ way of thinking to create needed value with fewer resources and less waste in 2014. In order to inculcate a culture of continuous experimentation to achieve perfect value with zero waste, the Lean Transformation team was formed. As the lean culture matured in the organisation, Nations Trust Bank upgraded its approach to Lean Six Sigma, in 2018, which allowed promoting structured problem-solving skills, a data driven approach and to reduce variation in the services provided, to drive the service quality to excellence.
Speaking on the milestone, G. Jeremy Godrick, Vice President, Transformation of Nations Trust Bank stated, “Adherence to Lean Six Sigma creates a culture of continuous improvement that resonates with our ethos, as we reinvent banking. We’ve built our very own ‘Idea Portal’ that allows our staff to register innovative ideas and manage projects end-to-end. This not only creates transparency for any staff on project status, but helps incentivise more and more innovations across the ranks.”
To promote continuous improvement among change makers, Nations Trust Bank formed a Lean mentoring pool within departments. These ‘Lean Squads’ and the ‘Special Transformation team’ strive to convert every moment as an opportunity to improve.
Nations Trust Bank is the first local bank to introduce Lean Six Sigma in the banking industry, applying it for strategic projects; to streamline, eliminate waste and reduce non-value adding activities. This enables designing and delivering various digitization solutions that are customer centric and Lean. The Bank has dedicated a qualified Lean Six Sigma professional team to conduct trainings and drive the desired change across the bank. The introduction of Six Sigma has upgraded trainings and certification programs from ‘Lean’ to ‘Lean Six Sigma’ granting a win-win platform for the bank and staff. The training programs, boot camps in the outskirt of Colombo, and Lean competitions enables staff to think Lean in every action they take, ultimately benefiting the bank’s service offering.
Nations Trust Bank PLC is among the top 15 business establishments in Sri Lanka as ranked by Business Today. The Bank serves a diverse range of customers across Consumer, Commercial and Corporate segments through an island wide network of 96 branches. The Bank is focused on digital empowerment through cutting-edge digital banking technologies, and pioneered FriMi, Sri Lanka’s leading digital banking experience. Nations Trust Bank PLC is an issuer and sole acquirer of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka with market leadership in the premium segments.