My career success … Sebastian Tjitombo

CREDIT banking involves moving money from where it is idle to where it is needed the most, but who get to say enough money has been moved? Credit officers. The Namibian's Walter Kariko (WK) recently sat down with Sebastian Tjitombo (ST), senior credit officer at Bank Windhoek on his career journey.

: What does your job entail?

: My job entails the administrative management of all credit facilities within a portfolio, in compliance with the bank's credit policies and procedures. I am responsible for ensuring that customers receive a professional and efficient service, in addition to making sure that they are aware of cross-selling opportunities.

: What's your approach to customers?

ST: My drive is to live out the Capricorn way, being solutions-based, because customers often come with problems. Customers do not just want money, but also solutions, so we try to lend to them responsibly while also providing complete solutions. I am concise when I speak, and ask questions to learn, improve and discover customer needs.

: What interesting facts have you found out so far about the banking sector?

: Banking is much more than moving money from point A (where it is) to point B (where it is needed). There are so many different facets to banking we were not taught in school, but ultimately it is all about cash flow management. Banking is fiercely competitive, and when all banks offer the same product/service at the same interest rate and with a flat fee, it comes down to relationships, service provision, convenience and reliability, and always striving to gain the competitive edge over our industry peers in all spheres is key.

: What are the new things you are keen to influence in the private banking space?

: I love making banking fun and humane. As bankers, fear has crept up and blown apprehension into our mental landscape about the digitalisation of banking services and products. I am, however, embracing the influence of new technologies on banking. Banking institutions in Namibia cannot escape the shifting dynamics brought about by the fourth Industrial Revolution, and if they are to survive in the new era, they will have to move away from the traditional ways of banking and adopt a more digital approach, enabling them to align themselves and their strategic objectives to the needs and preferences of the market. We need to embrace technology, act on it and keep ourselves in market leadership.

: Tell us briefly about your academic qualifications and where you studied.

: I started off at Eden Primary School at Okahandja, then Jan Möhr Secondary School and then Polytechnic of Namibia (now Nust). I graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the polytechnic of Namibia in 2015, then I did a few credit, collateral and banking modules at Bank Windhoek's learning and development centre through the graduate development programme, which brought me into Bank Windhoek in 2017.

I also completed two modules on pension funds, namely fiduciary duties and fund governance, as well as investment fundamentals for trustees through the Johannesburg School of Finance earlier this year, as I serve on the board of trustees of the Capricorn Group Retirement Fund. I am working towards an honours degree in business management at Nust at this point.

: Best book you recommend?

: I would recommend 'The Audacity of Hope' by Barack Obama. If we can all dare to hope, to believe and to push forward in this world filled with much uncertainty and fear, we are all certain to have a bright tomorrow.

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