HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) announced that it will be normalizing its branch operations, adhering to government and health regulations. As such, branches in curfew lifted districts will function as per normal office hours and branches in Colombo and Gampaha districts will function from 10 AM to 3 PM during weekdays. Sharing his thoughts Managing Director/CEO of HNBA and its fully owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI), Mr. Deepthi Lokuarachchi stated "HNBA Group has taken every initiative to serve its customers during this uncertain turbulence. Whilst safety of our employees and customers remain a top priority at this point, HNBA Group has taken a number of measures to ensure that every branch carries out its operations adhering to safety guidelines stated by the Government. Mr. Lokuarachchi further added, "if this situation has taught us anything that is uncertainty could strike when we least expect it and it could affect us all in an unexpected manner. It is during these uncertain times that we feel the need for a solid back-up plan and insurance has surely proved its purpose by ensuring that you and your loved ones are well taken care of during times of uncertainty". Mr. Prasantha Fernando, Chief Operating Officer of HNBA thanked the staff of HNBA stating "the staff members of HNBA has done a tremendous job during the lockdown by fulfilling customer needs, settling claims including those claims related to COVID-19. It is noteworthy to mention the timely initiatives taken by HNBA teams including improving digital selling platforms as well as digital claim submission and settlements and the Management is thankful for the efforts of the staff members". Deputy Chief Operating Officer of HNBA, Mr. Lasitha Wimalaratne shared his thoughts stating, "we mostly feel the need for a solid protection plan during times of uncertainly and with this thought in mind HNBA has developed a revolutionary insurance plan. PrivilegedLife as we call it is the newest addition to HNBA's product bouquet and offer solutions for needs such as education, investment, protection, retirement and health. This plan could be customized to suit every individual need. What makes it even more special is that benefits of PrivilegedLife continue even after the policy reaches its Maturity stage as it allows the Maturity Fund to be obtained as a Lump Sum or to be converted to Health Fund which could be used for medical needs through cashless bill settlement or the Policy's Maturity Fund could be obtained as a lifelong pension to spend the golden years of life with peace of mind. In addition to the main benefits, additional Protection Benefits such as Additional Life Benefit, Accidental Death Benefit, Critical Illness Benefit (covering 29 illnesses), Hospitalization Benefit, Surgical Benefit and Medical Reimbursement Benefit (SupremeHealth Benefit) with an annual worldwide coverage of up to LKR 50 Million could be obtained". HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 63 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. 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 and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and SAFA (South Asian Federation Accountants). " "HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) and its fully owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) obtained the Great Place to Work® certification upon meeting the global assessment standards and cultural audit requirements. Global people analytics and consulting firm Great Place to Work® is the global authority on assessing and benchmarking employee perception and organizational culture. Sharing his views on this global recognition, Managing Director/CEO of HNBA and HNBGI Mr. Deepthi Lokuarachchi stated “At HNBA and HNBGI, we continue to evolve and grow and this recognition is a testament to the continuous growth HNBA Group has demonstrated. This designation further validates our ethos, processes and practices and it solidifies our vision of sustained growth and creating a workplace of shared values, empowering culture and streamlined practices. As an organization spearheaded by values, people and processes, we firmly believe that we should continue to evolve and grow by understanding our people and their needs. Keeping this in mind, I firmly trust in achieving a brighter and stronger future for the two companies together, operating with each other in the ups and downs as one true family”. Chief Human Resources Officer of HNBA and HNBGI Mr. Dinuka Pattikiriarachchi shared his views stating “Our values are deeply engraved in our people practices and processors. Our laid down behaviour framework works as a moderator for all our decisions from hiring talent to performance management, from compensation management to talent management etc. As a team, we understand the importance of consistency and continues improvement needed in fostering a happy work place. To do that we invest time and resources in understanding our people, their needs and changes in the business environment and I feel we are reaping the benefits of such investment now. This recognition is a significant milestone in our journey but surely not an end destination. Achievements of this nature will certainly provide more thrust to our efforts in creating a benchmark in Employee Satisfaction”. HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) is the one of the fastest growing Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka with a network of 63 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. 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 and won many awards for its Annual Reports at award ceremonies organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and SAFA (South Asian Federation Accountants).
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.”
Read MoreFeb
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.
Read MoreFeb
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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