As the country is navigating a challenging recovery, with much uncertainty and limitations ahead, HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has introduced multi-channel communication platforms for its customers enhancing ease, convenience, and efficiency to obtain information about the products of the Company, information pertaining to their policies or any inquiries or complaints without visiting a branch. Customers could now reach HNBA by dialing its hotline on 1301 or for text-based communication on 0766 384 384 via WhatsApp or info@hnbassurance.com via email or through its social media channels. Customer Experience is a core pillar of the Company’s strategy and HNBA, as a leading life insurance service provider in the country has introduced a number of initiatives to provide a superlative experience to its customers. Sharing his views Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, Chief Executive Officer of HNBA stated, “Customer Experience is a journey, and the values of the brand are resonated through the service we provide to our customers at every moment and every touchpoint. The right customer experience strategy provides a seamless and consistently excellent experience across all channels and HNBA continuously strives to create an unmatched, superlative customer experience. The Company follows a simple yet effective Customer Experience mantra; that is every customer is unique and every customer has a different need. The key to providing a superlative service is by truly understating the customer beyond the words spoken. In a highly competitive market such as insurance, the right customer experience strategy can make a real difference and I’m extremely happy about HNBA’s Customer Experience Team and their efforts”. Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer/General Manager of HNBA and its fully owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited, Mr. Dinesh Yogaratnam express his views stating, “Today’s customer is extremely discerning in terms of what they expect from organisation that they transact with, whilst the importance of the right fit in terms of product goes unsaid, a well curated customer experience strategy which is meticulously implemented can help businesses to differentiate themselves and create that real difference which is felt by the customer. Simply put, Customer Experience in today’s context is the game changer. Customers seek seamless, consistently excellent solutions across all channels and with the intention of providing a world-class customer experience, HNBA has introduced several initiatives. The Company has infused and will continue to infuse better technology capabilities as the backbone along with enhanced data capabilities as a conduit through which a superior service delivery would be facilitated. The Company has also commenced various initiatives to inculcate a Customer First Ethos amongst its staff who would be the ultimate purveyor of our services. As a brand which focuses on being attuned with the environment within which we operate, HNBA has constantly challenged the traditional business model and has adapted innovative ways to attract, win and retain its customers and will continue to set new benchmarks in terms of providing a superlative customer experience”. Speaking on the multi-communication platforms, Head of Customer Experience/Assistant General Manager of HNBA, Mrs. Shaazna Ossen stated, “HNBA has taken several initiatives to provide an exceptional service by introducing multi-communication platforms, including an easy-to-remember short code number which customers could dial from any network to get in touch with us. Moreover, the Company has a designated Complaints Management Unit to resolve complaints in an efficient manner. These communication channels will be a pivotal steppingstone for us in fostering our relationships with customers especially during these challenging times. The Complaints Management Team has been provided direct access to the Senior Management of HNBA so that every customer complaint is resolved in an efficient manner. The Customer Experience standards of the Company is on par with industry standards and the performance of the Customer Experience team is constantly monitored to ensure that standards are maintained at every level. The Company has taken a number of initiatives to uplift, motive and empower the Customer Experience team as they are the face of the Company and to ensure a delivery of a superlative service. Customers can directly reach us by dialing 1301 or via WhatsApp, email or through our social media channels and our dedicated Customer Experience Team will assist all our customers with utmost efficiency”. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is a leading Life Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 64 branches. HNBA is a Life Insurance company with 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 HNB Assurance 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.
Feb
HNB Assurance PLC was recognized with the prestigious Effie Award under the Insurance category for its groundbreaking ‘Dola Duka’ campaign. Notably, HNB Assurance was the only winner in this category, underlining the campaign’s creativity, effectiveness and impact.The ‘Dola Duka’ campaign was conceptualized to address the unique cravings of pregnant and expecting mothers, ensuring they had access to their desired food items at any time. HNB Assurance bore the delivery costs while collaborating with merchants to extend their operating hours late into the night, ensuring seamless fulfillment of these cravings. This initiative showcased the brand’s deep commitment to customer-centric innovation and redefining insurance beyond conventional boundaries.Expressing his thoughts on this achievement, CEO of HNB Assurance PLC, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, stated, “I am truly proud of the effort that went into us winning an Effie Award, which is a testament to the meaningful impactful we managed to make. For us, ‘Dola Duka’ was more than just a campaign, it was about understanding and addressing a real need, reinforcing our promise to care for our customers beyond insurance. My congratulations to all the teams involved.”Adding to this, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer of HNBA, Mr. Dinesh Yogaratnam, commented, “This campaign reflects our ethos of innovation and customer-first thinking. ‘Dola Duka’ was designed to resonate emotionally while delivering tangible value, and this award is a validation of that success. A big thank you to our incredible partners, RN Media and Quickee.lk, for joining us on this journey and making this campaign a reality. We will continue to move forward bigger and better, creating impactful campaigns that redefine the insurance industry and enhance the lives of our customers and beyond.”
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Feb
HNB Assurance Group (HNBA and HNBGI) posted yet another year of remarkable performance, improving on its impressive growth rate maintained over the last few years. For the financial year 2024, the HNBA Group achieved a 21% increase in Gross Written Premium (GWP), growing from Rs. 18.8 Billion to Rs. 22.7 Billion. The Group also recorded a consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) exceeding Rs. 1.8 Billion, marking a 7% growth compared to the previous year.HNB Assurance PLC's (HNBA) financial strength was highlighted by its upgraded Fitch rating, making it the only life insurance provider in Sri Lanka with an 'A' rating from Fitch Ratings Lanka. Complementing this, HNB General Insurance (HNBGI) also achieved an 'A' rating, positioning it among the few general insurance companies in Sri Lanka to earn this distinction.Chairman of HNBA Group, Mr. Stuart Chapman, commenting on the Group’s financials for the year 2024, stated, “I’m extremely proud to note that the HNBA Group has once again exceeded expectations, delivering strong results that showcase our strategic foresight and operational efficiency. In terms of our numbers, over the past four years, we have consistently delivered strong growth, with a remarkable 22% average annual increase in GWP as a Group. This achievement underlines our focus on sustainable business practices. Our share price growth of 42% at end of 2024 reflects the trust the market places in our stability. It is also remarkable to note that both HNBA and HNBGI have maintained robust capital adequacy ratios of 379% and 219%, respectively, well above the regulatory requirement of 120%.”The Group’s Funds Under Management increased by 24% in 2024, reaching Rs. 55 Billion, highlighting the strength of the investment strategy as a key pillar in maintaining the Group’s financial stability and profitability. “When it comes to Insurance, trust is an absolute must and this remains central to our operations, as evidenced by the fact that we honored claims exceeding Rs. 6.7 Billion, with 98% of complaints being resolved successfully. This track record is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of our team, along with our focus on building lasting relationships with our policyholders”, added Mr. Chapman. CEO of HNBA Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne, breaking down the achievements of HNBA, stated, “Looking back at 2024, I am genuinely proud of the strides we have made as a company. Achieving a 7.5% market share is a huge milestone and we are well on our way to hitting that 10% target by 2026. Our New Business Premiums grew by 27% and our overall GWP up by 26% compared to 2024, which speaks volumes about the trust our customers place in us. Our investments also paid off, with an 8% boost in investment income, reaching Rs. 6.9 Billion.”“Personally, what stood out last year was, how we weathered challenges together. Despite the higher operating costs from our IT upgrades, we managed to close the year with a 3% growth in profits. Additionally, our Total Assets have grown by 24% to reach Rs.53 Billion with a PBT of Rs. 2.4 Billion and PAT of Rs. 1.66 Billion. I'm extremely thankful to all the teams for their collective efforts in driving our business from strength to strength,” he added.CEO of HNBGI, Mr. Sithumina Jayasundara, sharing his thoughts on the 2024 financial performance, stated, “2024 was a year of resilience and innovation for HNBGI, as we sustained our remarkable growth trajectory, doubling the industry growth rate for the fifth consecutive year. Our overall GWP growth of 14%, compared to the industry’s 6.9%, reflects the strong momentum we continue to drive. Notably, our non-motor segments surged by 24%, with Marine, Fire and Engineering Insurance achieving exceptional growth of 166% and 27% respectively, which is the highest among the top 10 General Insurers in the country. Despite challenges in the motor insurance sector, we remained agile, diversified our offerings, and secured a solid 6% growth."“One of the aspects we paid close attention to during 2024 was customer satisfaction which reflected in our renewal retention ratios of 77% for motor and 82% for non-motor segments, as well as a remarkable Net Promoter Score of 77. These figures show the trust and loyalty our customers have in us. Additionally, we achieved a 59% growth in Profit After Tax, and a market share of 7% which demonstrated the success of our strategy of driving sustainable growth in an uncertain environment. With our total assets reaching Rs. 10.2 Billion, a 7% increase, we’re confident that our approach is positioning HNBGI for long-term success.” Added, Mr. Jayasundara.
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Feb
HNB Assurance PLC entered a strategic partnership between its Partnerships Channel’s training arm, Life Campus and the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), marking a significant commitment to professional excellence and transformational learning.The Partnerships Channel at HNB Assurance has been rapidly expanding, positioning itself as a key driver of HNB Assurance’s business growth. With an increasing number of partnerships and a dynamic team dedicated to offering tailored insurance solutions, the need for continuous learning and professional development has never been greater. Recognizing this, the Life Campus was established as a dedicated training hub to equip the Partnerships Channel team including Bancassurance officers and other sales and management staff with the knowledge, skills and industry insights required to excel within its competitive market.This affiliation will offer specialized training programs, workshops and courses tailored to hone skills in sales, customer engagement and marketing, ensuring that HNB Assurance’s Partnership team is at the forefront of industry best practices.This initiative is part of HNB Assurance’s broader commitment to continuous professional development and by integrating the National Body for Marketing, SLIM’s robust training framework into Life Campus, the company is ensuring that its team remains agile, forward-thinking and ready to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
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