Professional Bankers Are Not Supposed To Be Wealthy, Except You’re Stealing – Sterling Bank CEO

Professional Bankers Are Not Supposed To Be Wealthy, Except You’re Stealing – Sterling Bank CEO

Abubakar Suleiman, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, has stirred a debate by suggesting that professional bankers should not aspire to wealth unless they are involved in unethical practices……READ ALSO Nigeria Mourns: Tributes Pour In For Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank CEO, And Family Lost In Tragic Crash

Speaking at the induction ceremony of 485 newly inducted members of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, Suleiman emphasized the service-oriented nature of banking as a profession.

He cautioned against viewing banking as a means to accumulate vast wealth, stating, “If your purpose is wealth… if you find a banker, a professional banker, and he says he’s wealthy, look at the person and ask how? By virtue of being a professional in employee status, that is not the road map to ‘billionaireship’ unless you are a thief.”

Suleiman highlighted the importance of ethical conduct in banking careers and suggested that prioritizing wealth accumulation could compromise one’s integrity. He emphasized that banking offers a sense of purpose beyond financial gain and urged professionals to focus on delivering high-quality service rather than chasing material wealth.

The CEO’s remarks have sparked discussions about the ethical standards and values within the banking industry, prompting reflections on the true purpose of a career in banking beyond monetary gains.