Craig Reddy

• After completing my last year in Professional Banking, I sought to utilize my education and experience by taking over a portfolio of High Income and Net Worth Private Bank clients who earn more than ZAR1.1M per annum.
• The entry into the role offered many challenges, including working alone on the portfolio, in the absence of a support transactional banker.
• I delivered significant portfolio growth compared to the prior year before I joined and developed deep client relationships, under immensely pressured circumstances.
• Service excellence, Performance, Strong Financial Acumen, Strategy and Leadership are at the heartbeat of this role.

• My role as an Acquisition Manager involves acquiring and managing a portfolio of professional clients employed in the Public Medical and Information Technology sector. After successful structuring of the Public Medical and IT sector, I took up the Engineering portfolio for Johannesburg & Pretoria regions to build this portfolio for the bank.
• As a senior manager, I pro-actively manage and lead transactional bankers.
• Beyond transactional and balance sheet banking, I actively hunt for business opportunities by creating and building meaningful relationships . This provides a platform to analyse our market and create client experiences to exceed our goals and objectives.
• Key contributions:
• • Client acquisition – Amplify and evolve target market modelling to grow business.
• • Client engagement and entrenchment.
• • I play a key role in demonstrating the Value Proposition to clients.
• • I coach internal and new business consultants.
• • Stakeholder engagement – I look after corporate relationships for key clients.

• My role as a Private Banker involves acquiring and managing a portfolio of clients employed in the Financial Services sector; ranging from High Income clients to High-Net-Worth clients. I find solutions for clients by preparing and presenting these opportunities to our credit forum and wealth.
• My strength in strategy is showcased in regular regional sector planning and implementation.
• Our Digital Design team leverage my customer experience and understanding of tech architecture to create a slick end-to-end client onboarding platform that was successfully rolled out, as we worked on enhancements.
• Key contributions:
• • Client acquisition – Amplify and evolve target market modelling to grow business.
• • Client engagement and entrenchment.
• • I play a key role in demonstrating the Value Proposition to clients.
• • I coach internal and new business consultants.
• • Stakeholder engagement – I look after corporate relationships for key clients.

I spent 2 years in this role as a Private Banker, acquiring and looking after young professionals in the Legal services industry.
This role groomed me to have deep conversations and coach young professionals on making the right decisions in the context of financial planning. I spearheaded a national acquisition strategy to acquire legal interns managing 8 reputable law firms and corporate partnerships.
Key Contributions:
• Creating and Maintaining Relationships
• Deal structuring and presentation
• Sales, Client and Risk Management

In an environment of over 50 national transactional bankers, I was 1 of 4 awarded a portfolio of affluent clients as a Private Banker to articulate my strength in banking sales.
I looked after a variety of internal (staff) and external clients. I grew the portfolio by achieving large sales targets. My knack for numbers, understanding of complex financials and sales flare positioned me as a senior banker, structured sales specialist and deal maker.
Key Contributions:
• Client entrenchment, acquisition and retention - build, maintain and execute on client relationship plans to fully understand clients’ needs and hold the primary relationship with clients.
• Provided advice to clients and acted as a supervisor under FSCA regulation.
• Influencer and Deal Maker for Private Bank - coaching private bankers on structured lending and attending client engagements with private bankers.
• Coaching transactional bankers.
• Relationship management.

In a collaboration session between Platinum and Private Bank, I was afforded an
opportunity to support a private banker by being committed to client experience and
identifying opportunities for the business.
I learnt how to deliver the private bank value proposition and experience to clients.
This role opened me to learn and understand private bank deal preparation.
Key Contributions:
• Customer service and complaints resolution
• Deal preparation
• Coaching graduates on systems and the banking environment.

I moved to Johannesburg taking on a role as a senior branch sales specialist, looking
after a portfolio of retail affluent clients and walk-in clients.
I mastered vanilla lending in this role and coached branch staff on sales via campaigns
and competitions.
Key Contributions:
• Achieving high volume and value sales targets for the branch.
• Being a team player by supporting other departments and relaying opportunities
within the group.
• Interview and advise clients. Acted as a supervisor under FSCA regulation.
• Educated clients to use alternative channels.
• Completed motivations for credit approval.

As a Retail Branch Banker, I provided tailored financial solutions to retail and main market clients, strengthening community relationships and enhancing client trust. Through proactive engagement, I conducted thorough customer needs analyses to deliver appropriate banking advice while ensuring full compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Key Highlights:
1. Built meaningful relationships with diverse community clients, moving from client experience to client excellence
2. Drove business development in the local area, managing sales projects and executing end-to-end client onboarding
3. Supported daily branch operations and cross-team capacity, ensuring seamless service delivery
4. Launched internal campaigns to boost branch and individual performance metrics
5. Collaborated within a team of 5 consultants, fostering a fun, accountable, and high-performing environment
6. Consistently met and exceeded measurable targets through competitive drive and teamwork
7. Earned a Higher Certificate in Banking Services (Top 6 of class, Distinction) while working full-time
8. Embodied Absa’s values of Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, and Excellence in every aspect of my role

Two years later and before I got too comfortable, I was inspired for my next challenge!

This was an interesting start for me, I recall asking for a "foot-in-the-door" at this interview. In a few weeks, I was hired.

I aspired to process the highest number of transactions in 1 day and achieved north of 430 transactions processed in one day with 100% accuracy.

My responsibilities included: Cash Management, Customer Service Excellence, Business Growth, Compliance & Security and Branch Contribution.

Within a short period, my dedication to branch growth was recognized by the Sales Manager, who invited me to interview for a Branch Consultant role.

I started as a part-time VAT Administrator and advanced to Financial Manager, driving finance strategy and cross-functional leadership.

Key achievements include:

1. Transitioned company accounting from cash basis to accrual basis

2. Improved debtor collections from 65% to 98.5%

3. Increased stock savings through strengthened creditor relationships

4. Managed finance administration, mobile installation, and full cash operations

5. Generated new income avenues for the business

6. Enhanced controls over invoicing, debtor management, and stock systems

7. Designed and implemented staff incentive programs to boost morale

8. Prepared full financial statements and tax submissions using QuickBooks

9. Developed business tools including invoices, job cards, and cash books; led social media marketing

10. Tripled monthly turnover in collaboration with the General Manager through strategic initiatives.

Following these achievements, I transitioned into the banking sector to further broaden my professional expertise.