Nigerian financial institution FirstBank says it has successfully re-certified its processes to the latest International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) information security management systems.

Officials said the re-certification to ISO/IEC 27001:2005 standard is part of efforts regarding sustained standards for information security.

ISO/IEC 27001:2005 is a formal specification of a management system intended to bring information security under management control

Speaking about FirstBank’s adoption of the standard, Bisi Onasanya -- the financial institution’s group managing director and chief executive officer -- said the bank is committed to subjecting its processes to the highest known management standards in information security.

“Our re-certification to ISO 27001 standards reinforces our commitment to enhancing customer experience through robust information as well as investments in our people, processes and technology,” he said.

Onasanya said benefits of the ISO certification include, among others, systems interoperability, quality assurance, due diligence, progressive benchmarking and security consciousness, as well as the maintenance of the confidentiality, integrity and availability of FirstBank’s information assets.

“We are delighted that beyond attaining these certifications, FirstBank in our little way, has contributed immensely to customer and investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

"This is significant to us because we take pride in staying at the vanguard of driving financial services dynamics in addition to institutionalising and setting the pace in ethical business practice in financial services and promoting the national economy,” he said.

In addition to the ISO/IEC to 27001:2005 Certification, FirstBank also has ISO 38500 IT Governance Certification, which provides guiding principles for the bank on the effective, efficient, and acceptable use of IT use within the bank.