Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has appointed Bernice Asabea Kissi Boateng as Group Head of Personal and Business Banking, in a move aimed at accelerating its growth strategy and strengthening its position within Ghana’s competitive financial services sector.

The appointment, announced in Accra on April 22, forms part of the bank’s broader transformation agenda, which is focused on enhancing customer experience, deepening relationships and driving sustainable growth across key market segments.

In her new role, Ms Kissi Boateng will oversee the bank’s commercial, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), consumer and prominence banking portfolios, widely regarded as critical pillars for expanding market share and delivering tailored financial solutions.

She brings more than 20 years of experience in corporate, commercial and investment banking, with a track record in managing high-value client portfolios and executing complex financial transactions. Her expertise spans trade finance, structured deals and balance sheet growth across multiple sectors.

Prior to joining UMB, she held senior positions at Access Bank Ghana, where she served as Sector Head for Corporate Banking and Head of Financial Institutions within the investment banking division, contributing to business expansion and transaction origination.

Her professional background also includes roles at GCB Bank, Bank of Baroda Ghana and Intercontinental Bank Ghana, where she developed expertise in operations, treasury and customer service.

Managing Director of UMB, Philip Oti-Mensah, said the appointment reflects the bank’s deliberate effort to build a high-performing leadership team capable of delivering a differentiated banking experience.

He noted that Ms Kissi Boateng’s leadership capabilities and commercial insight would play a key role in advancing the bank’s ambition to become a leading relationship-focused institution in Ghana.

The bank indicated that the appointment is part of a series of strategic hires intended to strengthen its competitive edge, improve service delivery and unlock new opportunities in both retail and business banking segments.

Ms Kissi Boateng is an alumna of St Rose’s Senior High School in Akwatia and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences as well as a Commonwealth Executive MBA from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, alongside professional training in credit, strategy and financial management.

Founded in 1972, UMB has over five decades of experience providing financial services to individuals, businesses and institutions. The bank has in recent years pursued a transformation drive aimed at improving operational efficiency and expanding its digital banking footprint, supported by a nationwide network of branches and customer service platforms.

The latest leadership appointment is expected to reinforce the bank’s focus on innovation, talent development and customer-centric banking as competition intensifies within Ghana’s financial sector.