By Elorm DESEWU
The merger between two giant universal banks, The Trust Bank and Merchant Bank Ghana, is most likely to be concluded by the end of this year, according to Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, managing director of TTB.
The legal aspects of the merger, which will create a single corporate entity out of the two banks, will soon be completed.
Also, the actual operational integration of the banks into one seamless financial services firm is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
The merger of the two banks is being made possible largely by the fact that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is the largest shareholder in both banks.
The merger will create one of Ghana’s biggest banks in the country.
For instance, if the merger had taken effect at the end of 2008, it would have created Ghana’s fifth largest bank, adjudged by total assets which would have amounted to GH¢693 million, with Merbank contributing GH¢440 million and TTB GH¢253 million.
Actually, the operation integration of the two banks has already begun at least indirectly.
They have agreed in principle not to open new branches in the same location so as not to duplicate efforts.
It still remains unknown as to what name the merged bank will use, which of the bank’s head offices will serve as corporate headquarters of the merged entity.
Fortunately, both banks already use the same IT platform and this will considerably make the operational integration process simpler.
The merger between two giant universal banks, The Trust Bank and Merchant Bank Ghana, is most likely to be concluded by the end of this year, according to Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, managing director of TTB.
The legal aspects of the merger, which will create a single corporate entity out of the two banks, will soon be completed.
Also, the actual operational integration of the banks into one seamless financial services firm is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
The merger of the two banks is being made possible largely by the fact that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is the largest shareholder in both banks.
The merger will create one of Ghana’s biggest banks in the country.
For instance, if the merger had taken effect at the end of 2008, it would have created Ghana’s fifth largest bank, adjudged by total assets which would have amounted to GH¢693 million, with Merbank contributing GH¢440 million and TTB GH¢253 million.
Actually, the operation integration of the two banks has already begun at least indirectly.
They have agreed in principle not to open new branches in the same location so as not to duplicate efforts.
It still remains unknown as to what name the merged bank will use, which of the bank’s head offices will serve as corporate headquarters of the merged entity.
Fortunately, both banks already use the same IT platform and this will considerably make the operational integration process simpler.
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