Blue Bankers climb the ladder of success

Octavia Tsibes
Standard Bank Namibia is proud to announce the appointment of Daniel van der Merwe as its new commercial relationship manager.

In this position, Van der Merwe will work hand-in-hand with Tier 1 business banking clients, serving as an educator for all their banking needs. He will also be responsible for maintaining relationships with newly acquired clients.

Van der Merwe joined Standard Bank in 2016 as a client analyst within the corporate investment banking (CIB) department, doing everything from credit analysis, client queries and industry analysis.

After that, in 2017, he joined private banking as an offshore manager, dealing with Standard Bank’s offshore banking and investment solutions. While working as an offshore manager, he won the top salesperson across Africa award, through after his portfolio by 130%.

“I am motivated to explore the banking industry as a whole. I believe it is of utmost importance that we as a bank understand our client’s way of doing business. We want to help our clients grow, and by this evolve our relationship with their businesses,” he said.

Van der Merwe added he is ready to transition from a sales-orientated job to one where building relationships and trust is key.

Van der Merwe attained his Bachelors in Economics and Investment Management at the University of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape in 2015. He has also set his sights on attaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the near future.

Describing himself as being very rational, he is more than eager to kick-start this new position with determination and drive. He invites clients to contact his office and engage with him openly to explore new opportunities.

“I am looking forward to meeting and engaging with clients, being visible in the market and expanding our variety of solutions and services within the industry” Van der Merwe added.

New offshore manager

Standard Bank is also proud to announce the appointment of Lorraine Steenkamp, a true Blue Banker at heart, who has taken up the mantle as the bank’s new offshore manager.

Considered an invaluable member of the Standard Bank family, she has proven herself to be a hardworking and dedicated individual with the customers’ needs at heart.

A driven career banker, Steenkamp first joined the bank back in 1992, before leaving it for four years to explore other avenues. She returned to her roots as a Blue Banker in 2013 where she has excelled in leaps and bounds. During the course of her career, she honed her expertise in the fields of private banking, business banking and corporate and investment banking as a transactional product specialist.

In her new position as offshore manager, Steenkamp will handle Standard Bank’s offshore assets in Namibia. Steenkamp will provide clients with insight into the bank’s offshore products offerings, to help them create flexibility and diversity in their investment and banking portfolios.

Standard Bank’s offshore banking enables people who live or work abroad to manage their finances in one central location. By keeping their money in one place, it allows them to make transfers and payments in several currencies from a stable and secure offshore jurisdiction.

Steenkamp was integral to the success of the then priority banking department as a top performer in providing superb client experience. Owing to her earlier success in this department, Steenkamp said she is extremely excited to be returning to the private banking fold.

“Starting a new position is always exciting and I look forward to the learning opportunities that come with this new position. I am passionate about people and serving them; I would go as far as calling myself ‘customer-obsessed’. Owing to that, I am eager about adding value to my clients,” she said.

Steenkamp boasts a host of accolades on her resume, most notably winning an excellence award in private banking and in 2016 she was awarded the excellence award for being the top relationship manager in the Africa regions as part of the commercial property team at Standard Bank.