Robert Pancras

CEO, NATIONAL FINANCE COMPANY What was the driver behind the merger between the National Finance Company and Oman Oryx?

The key driver for the merger was the synergies between both companies. National Finance’s operations covered financing salary individuals, SMEs, and corporates, while Oryx had a strong presence in the business segment. Post-merger, we have a strong leadership position across all three customer segments, namely retail, SME, and corporate.

Which lines are set to grow in the future?

Our business is primarily financing Omanis, and we are anticipating slow growth in the short term. Although people are buying less cars than before, customers come to us for new and second-hand vehicles as part of their replacement cycle. The velocity has significantly decreased and we have customers who need funding for their working capital. There is a bit of consolidation happening, and we believe more consolidation will happen in the future.

What is the stance of finance companies about the rise of tech companies and digitalization?

Finance companies need to have a higher level of customer orientation and flexibility as compared to banks. The technologies of today enable companies to offer a richer customer experience and increase efficiency of their own operations. We are continuously evolving our platform by incorporating some of these technologies to enhance the user experience of our customers.