Priyantha Talwatte takes over as new CEO at Nations Trust Bank

The Nations Trust Bank yesterday announced that Priyantha Talwatte has taken over the reins as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding former Director/Chief Executive Officer Renuka Fernando.

Priyantha Talwatte

Talwatte, who has been an integral part of the corporate management team of the bank for the past 17 years, was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer and named Chief Executive Officer designate in January 2019.

With over 27 years of professional experience in diverse sectors, Talwatte energised the consumer banking business at Nations Trust Bank as a transformative business leader. In a time of industry wide change, he was a leading proponent of digital banking and the digitisation of operations for optimal customer convenience, establishing and strengthening the bank’s direct banking and digital channels.

Commenting on the CEO appointment, NTB Chairman Gihan Cooray said: “The Board has every confidence that Mr. Talwatte will lead the bank towards achieving its goals. Mr. Talwatte is the most suitable man for the job, and I wish him well in his new role.”

Talwatte proved his mettle by contracting and launching the American Express franchise in Sri Lanka implementing best in class work process and practices internally and externally to become the leading credit card issuer and acquirer in the local market.

He was also instrumental in cementing Nations Trust Bank’s position in consumer banking, demonstrating expertise in setting up new business units; expanding and scaling existing business units of the bank; and in the start-up of new businesses, scaling profitably and ensuring sustainable growth.

Speaking on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Talwatte said: “Nations Trust Bank has always been known for a bold, forward-thinking approach in the work we do. I have to thank my predecessor, Renuka Fernando, whose eight years at the helm propelled the bank forward, positioning it on a strong platform to pursue future growth. I am determined to continue my work in transforming Nations Trust Bank to its best self to stay ahead in a fast-changing world. The confidence placed in me by the Board and the Nations Trust Team and the continued support of our customers, our merchant partners, and all other stakeholders in the bank’s journey, gives me the assurance that we will be able to reach our common goal.”

 The leadership displayed in developing a sales, service and business development culture driven by data analytics for risk management and decision making by Talwatte reshaped the bank’s operations. He transformed Nations Trust Bank’s branch network into a vehicle for all products and propositions of the bank and is also credited with the development of a unique portfolio-based customer management process, serving a majority of high value customers in the Sri Lankan market through one on one relationship management.

Talwatte is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA (AMP-196) and is a qualified Marketer of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK).

Nations Trust Bank PLC is among the top 15 business establishments in Sri Lanka as ranked by Business Today Magazine, ably providing a host of financial products and services to a wide range of customers. Nations Trust is also the bank behind Sri Lanka’s first fully-fledged digital banking experience, FriMi.

The bank operates 96 branches across the country, boasting an ATM network covering 127 locations and 48 Cash Deposit and Withdrawal Machines, plus more than 3,700 ATMs on the LankaPay network and is the issuer and sole acquirer for American Express Cards in Sri Lanka.