Q&A: Standard Chartered Bank’s Agnes Umutoni, on why she thinks her bank is the No.1 go-to bank for affluent banking and wealth management solutions It is said that the secret to wealth is hard work and good management. Well, you work hard already, so why don’t you hand over the “good management part” Standard Chartered Bank team of certified wealth specialists and advisors, with over 10 years of experience in wealth advisory in Uganda and over 30 years of global experience? In this interview, Agnes Umutoni, the Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, General Manager, Affluent Banking & Wealth Management explains what sets apart the bank’s wealth management offering.

First of all, what does wealth creation mean for you and your clients at Standard Chartered Bank?

Creating value for our clients comes first. Our recommendations are based solely on what’s best for our clients and our biggest goal is to have an impact on their livelihood.  

At Standard Chartered, we are in a strong position to help our clients build a secure future for themselves and their families by providing objective, relevant advice and access to the solutions they need to achieve their ambitions.

Standard Chartered Bank has always claimed the No.1 wealth advisory bank in Uganda. What makes you think you deserve this position?

Well there is quite several features that make our offering stand apart and they include:

• Experience: We have had over 10 years of experience in wealth advisory in Uganda and over 30 years within our Global network.
• Personalized advisory: We personalize wealth content and advice to help our clients navigate market trends and seize opportunities. Our diverse and independent advice helps them make well-informed decisions.
• Local and global opportunities: We have a range of local and global options for our clients that don’t require them to leave the country. Opening any international account to trade in foreign options is done in Uganda with the help of our wealth specialists and Relationship Managers.
• We are the only bank in the market that offer foreign currency corporate bonds and an investment based insurance product that guarantees a 200% return upon maturity.
• Team of experts: Our in-house structure is an unmatched fully certified team of wealth specialists and our trained relationship managers are fully equipped to guide our clients to make the right investments. We also prioritize regular portfolio reviews to ensure they stay on track at their leisure.
• Digitisation: Convenience for our clients remains key. The first step of investments is profiling, and our clients can do that right from our Mobile App. They can also enjoy preferential exchange rates online.

If I wanted to get started, what options are available for first-time clients?

Currently, we offer Fixed Income commonly known as Treasury Bonds i.e. Local Currency government bonds and Foreign currency Corporate Bonds. These investments offer fixed coupon interest paid semi-annually.

We also offer life insurance products—Educare and Super Endowment, that pays out 200% of face value at maturity. It also has mid-term payouts and additional benefits for critical illness, disability or death.

We have foreign exchange solutions that allow our clients to trade in over 13 currencies right from our SC Mobile App.

Any final comments? When would you say is the best time to enrol for these wealth management solutions?

The last few years have been quite telling and a reminder that ensuring you and your loved ones stay protected should always take priority. At whatever stage of life, you are at, we’ll match the right investment for you while maintaining the right balance of return and risk.

That said, every day is a good day to start; so start today. Contact us to find out how we can support you by emailing us at Uganda.InvestmentAdvisory@sc.com or visiting our website at sc.com/ug.