The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) celebrated its 84th anniversary with a ceremony at the Bank’s head office in Colombo.
The ceremony began with religious sermons, invoking blessings on the staff and on all customers of the bank.
Bank’s Chairman. Ronald C. Perera, General Manager Russel Fonseka, members of the bank’s Board of Directors, corporate and executive management, staff members, customers and well-wishers were present.
Similarly, the Bank’s branch network too celebrated the anniversary along with their loyal customers and well-wishers.
BOC’s founding is a major event in the country’s economic history in the modern era as it is a milestone in what today is called “Financial inclusion”. What may come as a surprise to leaders today is that the access we have today to modern banking services for the ordinary citizen or local business was not available then.
The setting up of the Bank of Ceylon and its opening on August 1, 1939 for business by British Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott led to ordinary people being able to open an account and use cheques for transactions.
Today it is a thoroughly modern bank with technology forming the backbone of its operating infrastructure. The awards it continues to win and the accolades it continues to earn have become commonly repeated facts in various media.
Its performance and figures are commonly known facts.
A novel product focused on empowering customers through a flexible investment plan, “BOC Flexi Investor” account was launched to commemorate the anniversary.
This novel savings account comes with special features that enables the eligible account holder to have a goal-based investment plan to achieve financial goals in the way he/she desires. Flexibility to set own investment plan based on the goal, tenure and the affordable deposit with a wide range of investment options and attractive interest rates. It also gives the option to open multiple investment plans simultaneously and there will be no penalty for missed deposits.