As per the Central Bank of
Afghanistan (DAB) regulation, the term ‘’Corporate Governance” means a set of
relationships amongst the Board of Management, Board of Supervisors, Shareholders,
Audit Committee and other stakeholders to ensure smooth, professional and
compliant working of the organization.
These relationships, which involve
various rules and incentives, provide the structure through which the
objectives of the banks are set, and the means of attaining these objectives as
well as monitoring performance are determined. Thus, the key aspects of good
corporate governance include transparency of corporate structures and
operations, accountability of Board of Management and Board of Supervisors to
General Assembly of Shareholders, safeguarding interest of depositors, and
meeting obligations toward shareholders after considering the interest of other
recognized stakeholders.
All the four Shareholders are well
experienced businessmen having exposure to diverse fields/ industries
internationally and through their regular interaction with the members of the
Board of Supervisors, have been guiding the bank for safeguarding the interests
of all the stakeholders.
Presently the Board of Supervisors
(BoS) is composed of 5 distinguished professionals, all of whom including the
Chairman of the Board are independent directors. The Chairman of the BoS is a
finance and Audit professional with over 20 years of experience in Finance/auditing
at high positions. The other board members are having vast experience in
Banking, Audit, Business, Administration and Risk Management & other
Control functions, having worked in various geographies and international
environment.
The meetings of the BoS are held at
regular intervals every month. The BoS, approved the performance of the bank
along with determined and pre-defined targets while analyzing the performance
in each of the respective parameters. The BoS also monitors the entire gamut of
internal controls, process flows and monitors the exceptional reports.
It approves the entire set of
policies after an exhaustive review. It also enquires about any deviation in
operations. Conducting monitoring at regular intervals it ensures that the bank
takes care of the interests of all the stakeholders.
The Audit Committee is presently
constituted of 3 members. The Chairman and members of the Audit Committee are
members of the BOS. Regular meetings of the Audit Committee are held and all
internal areas are reviewed by the committee.
The Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Chief
Compliance Officer and Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) are working independently.
The CRO and Chief Compliance Officer are directly reporting to the Board and
the CIA is reporting to the Audit Committee.
The banks Board of Management is
composed of eminent individuals with a wealth of experience in public policy,
administration, industry and commercial banking. The Management Board of the
Bank comprises of professional members duly approved by the regulator- Da
Afghanistan Bank. The members are a perfect blend of experience and youth.
While ensuring implementation of the policies approved by the BoS; they have
been taking adequate care of the laws of the land and International best
standards. Senior banking professionals with substantial experience head
various businesses and functions and report to the CEO.
Various committees meetings
reporting to the BOS and the BOM are held on a regular basis to ensure fairness
and robustness of the efficient functioning of the bank.
The bank understands that the good corporate
governance inter alia encompasses variety of issues, including the disclosure
of information to Shareholders and Board members, the remuneration of senior
executives, potential conflicts of interest among managers and directors,
supervisory structures and other stakeholders etc. which are being duly
addressed by the concerned bodies in discharge of their duties.