First National Bank:Developing a Culture of Innovation

It was mid-September 2010. All 50 finalists in the annual First National Bank (FNB) Innovators Campaign were about to present their ideas to the judges. For CEO Michael Jordaan, this was a highlight in his calendar – he always looked forward to being inspired by the flow of new ideas.

FNB had become known in the industry as a leader in banking innovation. When Jordaan took over the reins in 2004, he took innovation to a new level through the Innovators Campaign. But now he was wondering how to sustain the energy the campaign had engendered in his staff. What more could he do to nurture the spirit of innovation that permeated the organisation?

Case is relevant to the following topics: Innovation, entrepreneurship.