MANAGING Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola has spent all of 35 years in banking - and he maintains that he has enjoyed every minute of it.
With the lofty dream of creating a million jobs before he dies, he spoke about why Intercontinental Bank is on top...

Let's go a bit personal now. What would you say has placed you where you are today?

I think I will say it's grace of God. Grace of God because in life there are decisions you make which become problems for you. And of course, there are decisions you make which become blessings unto you. So, more is the grace of God. For example, when we were starting Intercontinental, a lot of other banks started then that have since collapsed. It is not because we are cleverer, only we enjoyed better grace. Let me put it that way. But having said that, one thing I must give to workers in this bank is that we sure work hard. So, we definitely do work hard. It's important. Because without hard work there's not much you can achieve. And of course integrity. Because people bring money into banks based on who is there. If I can trust him, then I can leave my money with him. So, we make sure that people can trust us in whatever we do.

Your life as a banker, how will you describe it, how has it been?
I think I've been in banking now for about 35 years. I've enjoyed every minute of it. Very challenging job. Because there's no dull moment in banking, you always have problems to solve. Oh yes! You are always having one problem or the other, right from day one...