HNB Assurance PLC., (HNBA) one of the fast-growing Life Insurance Companies in the country recorded a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of 4.3 Bn during the first half of 2022 which is an impressive growth of 37% compared to the comparative period last year. Whilst this growth is well over that of the industry which grew at 18%, it is also the highest growth recorded amongst the top 10 life insurers in the country.
Sharing his views, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne stated, “I’m extremely impressed to see this growth moment of the Company despite the challenges we had to face during the first half of the year, which is a reaffirmation of and a testament to the robust strategies that have been employed by the Company as we chart our course during these trying times. Both business lines of the Company, namely the Agency and the Partnership Channel have made great headway in tapping into diverse customer pools to offer a very robust full-bodied insurance proposition addressing the financial protection needs of a very discerning clientele. The business is also retooling itself with the latest in terms of technological capability to ensure that we stay reachable and relevant to the various markets that we operate in”. Mr. Wimalaratne also noted with deep appreciation the contribution of the Company’s Advisor Force, Bancassurance Team, Alternative Sales Team and the Distribution Management Team for their sheer hard work and unwavering determination which has delivered these impressive results in the most arduous of conditions.
Chief Business Officer/ General Manager - Advisor Distribution Channel of HNBA, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe expressed his views stating, “Amidst many challenges and negative impact caused by the economic turbulence of the country, the Advisor Force of HNBA has gone the extra mile to keep the business steady and growing, and I am extremely delighted to elaborate on the achievements we have recorded as a result of it. During the first half of the year 2022, the Advisor Channel recorded a total GWP of LKR 2.4 Bn. The business continued to seize new and potential market segments across the country. The Advisor Channel showed a steady growth as several recruitment campaigns continued throughout the country. Whilst appreciating the dedication and efforts of the entire Advisor Force, Branch Network and Distribution Management Teams, with the direction of the Management, I’m sure the Advisor Channel will continue its growth trajectory during the second half of 2022”.
Mr. Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer/ General Manager - Partnership of HNBA expressed his views stating, “The Partnership Channel delivered an exceptional performance during 1H 2022, setting new benchmarks in the market recording a GWP of LKR 1.8 Bn. As one of the key business channels of the Company the overall partnership network has grown and contributed immensely to the business, and I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the entire Bancassurance, Broker and Alternate Teams for their continuous dedication. I also record our most heartfelt appreciation of all our Bancassurance partners without whose support achievements such as this would not have been possible. I’m confident that, with the solid business strategies in place the Partnership Channel will continue to grow to new heights”.
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is a leading Life Insurance Company in Sri Lanka with a network of 64 branches. HNBA has been assigned a rating of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka for 'National Insurer Financial Strength Rating'. Following the introduction of the segregation rules by the Insurance Regulator, HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) was created and commenced its operations in January 2015; HNBGI continues to specialize in motor, non-motor and Takaful insurance solutions and is a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC. HNB General Insurance has been assigned a 'National Insurer Financial Strength Rating' of ‘A+’ (lka) by Fitch Ratings Lanka Limited. HNBA is rated within the Top 100 brands and Top 100 companies in Sri Lanka by LMD and has won international awards for Brand Excellence, Digital Marketing and HR Excellence including the Great Place To Work® Certification, and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.
May
HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has once again reaffirmed its industry leadership in Bancassurance by securing the title of "Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka" for the fifth consecutive year, awarded by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK. Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance, expressed his thoughts on this milestone, stating, “Being named the Best Life Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka for the fifth year in a row is not just an honor, it is a reflection of the enduring partnerships we have built especially with our parent company Hatton National Bank along with the passion of our teams. This accolade speaks volumes of our consistent efforts to elevate standards in bancassurance. Our teams continue to innovate, collaborate and break boundaries to deliver meaningful solutions to our customers. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the management of Hatton National Bank and our other partners for their continued guidance and support.”Highlighting the pivotal role of the Partnership Channel, Mr. Wimalaratne further added,“As we accelerate towards our goal of capturing a 10% market share, the Partnership Channel remains central to our growth strategy. Congratulations to the teams involved, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished and am excited about the journey ahead.”Mr. Supun Dias, Senior Vice President - Network Management at Hatton National Bank, congratulated the team at HNBA, stating, “To witness HNBA win this prestigious title for five consecutive years is truly inspiring. It is a testament to the strength and synergy of our long-standing partnership. As a Group, we are committed to driving innovation and delivering superior value to our clients. Congratulations to HNBA and everyone involved in achieving this exceptional feat.”Also sharing his thoughts, Mr. Sanesh Fernando, Chief Business Officer – Partnerships at HNB Assurance, remarked, “This milestone is the direct result of the dedication our teams and tireless efforts they have made to deliver value to our policyholders. The Partnerships team at HNBA, together with our banking partners, especially Hatton National Bank, have been instrumental in shaping this success story. I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the HNB Branch Management, HNB Bank Network Management along our valued customers for their trust placed on us. This fifth win reinforces our drive to deliver excellence and as we move forward we will continue to strive to reach even greater heights.
Read MoreMay
Strengthening its footprint across Sri Lanka, HNB Assurance PLC officially opened its newest branch in Jaffna, located at No. 521, Point Pedro Road, Nallur. With this addition, the company now operates 11 branches in the North emphasizing the company’s ongoing efforts to bring its life insurance solutions closer to communities in the Northern Province, making protection and financial planning more accessible than ever before. The new Jaffna branch will serve as a hub for customers in the region, delivering personalized insurance services with the hallmark trust, care and professionalism the company is known for.Speaking at the branch opening, Mr. Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC, stated, “We are indeed excited to further strengthen our footprint in the Northern Province with the opening of this new branch in Jaffna. With multiple touchpoints already established in the region, our growing presence allows us to better serve the evolving needs of our customers and create even closer relationships with the communities we operate in. We remain dedicated to being a trusted partner in their journey towards a more secure and resilient future.”Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Harindra Ramasinghe, Chief Business Officer – Advisor Distribution Channel of HNB Assurance PLC, commented, “With the opening of our newest branch in Jaffna, we now operate over 70 physical branches across the island and with this new branch opening we have reaffirmed our belief in the strategic importance of the Northern Province to our growth journey. We have always recognized Jaffna as a key region with immense potential and we are proud to strengthen our connection with its people. My sincere thanks to the Distribution Management team and all the other support teams for their efforts in helping us open this branch.”The newly inaugurated Jaffna branch is now open to serve customers from Monday to Friday, offering expert guidance and tailored life insurance solutions to meet diverse needs.
Read MoreMay
In an effort to demonstrate its continued commitment to exceptional service and customer convenience, HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has launched a 24-hour call center, enabling policyholders to connect with the company on all matters related to customer service at any time, from anywhere using the short code 1301. While customer service support is now available 24/7, hospitalization claims-related services will continue to be handled as per the specific instructions issued to the policyholder at the time of obtaining a policy.HNB Assurance has experienced consistent growth, recording an impressive average growth rate of 26% over the past four years. The company’s momentum and customer-centric focus have paved the way for initiatives such as the 24-hour call center, designed to strengthen policyholder engagement and ensure seamless service delivery.“Exceptional customer service is not just a value we uphold; it is a critical pillar of our strategy to achieve a 10% market share by 2026” said Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance. “Making our call center available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, ensures our policyholders are supported when they need us most, reinforcing the trust they place in us every day. Additionally, our significant investments in digital transformation to make interactions of our policyholders with us seamless, to initiatives like this, all aim at delivering our broader mission to continuously enhance our customer experience”. Speaking further he went on to add “as an industry, as we push towards greater insurance penetration, it is important that players do everything in their power to foster greater levels of confidence and convenience to the customer”.Earlier this year, HNB Assurance also unveiled a dedicated Customer Service Centre, a thoughtfully curated space designed to create personalized and streamlined interactions. Together with the 24-hour call center, HNB Assurance continues to reimagine and elevate every aspect of the customer journey.“Our newly enhanced 24-hour call center operation and the upgraded Customer Service Centre we opened earlier this year are all part of our ongoing efforts to elevate and refine every touchpoint so as to offer a superlative customer experience that truly differentiates us from the competetion,” added Dinesh Yogaratnam, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer / General Manager of HNB Assurance. “We recognize that as a company we offer something that is intangible, protection, trust and peace of mind and for that, we need to be with our customers at all times. Hence, these initiatives are not standalone, they are integral to how we plan to grow, not just in size but in the value and care we offer to every policyholder.”
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