FirstBank Ghana has held the maiden edition of its SME Connect, a workshop to deepen engagement with small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) customers and better align its products with their needs.

The event marked the climax of a series of activities, including a two-day health screening exercise organised for the public.

The bank also undertook community outreach in the Makola area to promote its services and strengthen relationships with businesses.

As part of the programme, customers were taken through three key topics, including the use of social media, foreign exchange (forex) and access to finance, to equip them with practical knowledge to grow their businesses.

The sessions were aimed at providing SMEs with valuable insights into financial management, market positioning and opportunities within the foreign exchange space.

Listening to customers

Speaking at the workshop in Accra last Thursday, the Head of SME and Affluent Banking of FirstBank Ghana, Enoch Adams, said the initiative was designed to create a platform for direct interaction between the bank and its SME clients.

He explained that although the bank had organised similar programmes in the past, this was the first time it was hosting SME Connect as a structured forum to listen to customers, understand their challenges and receive feedback on its services.

He said the growth of the bank was closely tied to the success of its customers, stressing that “we cannot grow without you, and it will not be right for us to grow without growing together with you”.

He said the forum would enable customers to share concerns about issues such as loan sizes and requirements, which were sometimes considered inadequate or too demanding.

Mr Adams added that insights gathered from the engagement would be reviewed critically to improve the bank’s products and services.

Business growth

FirstBank Ghana’s Treasurer, Grace Isaac-Aryee, reiterated the bank’s commitment to empowering customers and driving business growth through tailored financial solutions and innovative support systems. 

She emphasised the bank’s role as more than just a financial service provider, positioning itself as a long-term partner dedicated to helping individuals and businesses succeed.

“We are gathered here today as part of FirstBank’s deliberate efforts to deepen our engagement with the SME community through our SME Connect initiative.

“This platform is designed not just to interact, but to build stronger relationships, foster trust, and better understand the evolving needs of businesses,” Ms Isaac-Aryee said.

She further stated that FirstBank’s approach was focused on walking alongside customers at every stage of their journey, offering not only financial services but also advisory support designed to foster sustainable growth.

She added that the strategy reflected a broader effort to strengthen relationships and build trust with clients across various sectors.