Darshana Widyaratne
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE,United Arab Emirates
Summary
Accomplished professional specializing in credit risk assessment and financial analysis. Proven success in wholesale banking and portfolio management, ensuring regulatory compliance and enhancing client relationships. Expertise in market analysis and team leadership, driving strategic growth and optimizing financial performance.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Relationship Officer - Wholesale Banking
Commercial Bank International
Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
2024.05 - 2026.02
- Manage high profile relationships particularly with government entities, Royal families and blue-chip companies.
- Monitoring credit quality of portfolio to ensure risk recognition and accurate risk rating for each relationship.
- Identify early warning signals to prevent asset deterioration and mitigate risks.
- Develop and execute action plans for recovery and eliminating irregularities in each account. Maintain continuous contact with customers for business development and respond promptly to their inquiries and requests.
- Conduct comprehensive analysis of financial statements and industry trends for corporate and commercial customers, preparing detailed credit and short-term proposals.
- Provide valuable marketing information related to existing customers to support business strategies.
- Ensure timely settlement of customer obligations through consistent follow-ups.
- Maintain accuracy in financial analysis and ensure timely turnaround of credit proposals and short-term credit reviews within established benchmarks.
- Follow up on required documentation for approved clients and ensure submission to Credit Administration department.
- Monitor sanctioned limits and ensure compliance with approved credit facilities.
- Manage day-to-day transaction requests from clients, ensuring smooth processing. Ensure timely submission and follow-up of reviews for the renewal of credit facilities.
- Conduct in-depth analysis of customer requirements, raising pertinent questions to ensure thorough understanding.
- Execute marketing plans as per agreed objectives to maximize profitability and drive business growth.
- Refer and secure new business opportunities, including deposits and borrowing relationships, to demonstrate growth potential.
Senior Manager - Business Banking and Commercial Banking
Bankeye Consultants
Colombo
2019.09 - 2023.11
- Acted as a liaison between the bank and its customers, ensuring clear communication and mutual understanding of credit terms and conditions.
- Conducted thorough financial analysis to assess the viability of projects and compiled comprehensive project reports.
- Evaluated credit propositions in accordance with prevailing banking regulations and prepared necessary documentation to meet financing requirements.
- Educated customers on the legal aspects of banking operations, including recovery laws and Central Bank directives.
- Provided expert advice to customers about available credit lines and various financing options, utilizing deep knowledge of credit analysis principles.
- Negotiated with financial institutions to secure the most favorable and expedient deals for customers, employing strong negotiation skills and credit risk management principles.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies through diligent documentation and review processes.
- Maintained accurate and up-to-date records of customer interactions and financial assessments.
Senior Zonal Credit Manager - Commercial Banking
Nations Trust Bank PLC
2016.06 - 2019.08
- Sanctioned credits within my delegated authority and made recommendations for higher-level decisions, demonstrating a solid understanding of credit risk assessment.
- Conducted thorough credit assessments, identified and quantified credit risk exposure, and optimized the portfolio to balance risk and return.
- Developed risk models and metrics to measure credit risk and create risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential losses.
- Analyze data to identify trends, correlations, and potential risk factors, using statistical tools to make data-driven decisions and identify early warning signs of credit deterioration.
- Collaborated with sales, account management, and other departments to assess credit risk in new and existing customer relationships, conducting ongoing credit reviews to evaluate the performance of the existing portfolio.
- Maintained a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio below the industry benchmark, reflecting effective credit risk management.
- Ensured high audit ratings across all the branches with zero failed audits, demonstrating adherence to banking regulations and credit policies.
- Actively participated in the training and development of branch managers and credit staff of the zone, ensuring they were well-informed about credit policies and risk appetite of the bank.
- Monitored the performance of credit staff of the zone, reviewed credit recommendations, ensured compliance with credit policies, and provided constructive feedback.
- Fostered relationships with customers, business partners, and other stakeholders, understanding their needs and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Branch Manager
DFCC Bank PLC
, Sri Lanka
2012.11 - 2016.05
- Achieved the breakeven point within 5 months and expanded the loan book by LKR 300 million and deposits by LKR 500 million within ten months.
- Consistently maintained a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio below 5% and managed the branch cost/income ratio at satisfactory level.
- Supervised branch staff effectively, ensuring high performance through training and performance management.
- Met and exceeded sales targets by implementing required sales strategies, enhancing customer acquisition and retention.
- Ensured compliance with banking regulations, managed the branch budget meticulously, and fostered relationships with local businesses and community organizations.
Executive - Operations
DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC
2012.04 - 2012.11
Junior Executive Officer
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
2007.09 - 2012.04
Junior Executive Assistant
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
2003.04 - 2007.09
Banking Assistant
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
1998.10 - 2003.04
Education
Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) -
University of Colombo
Sri LankaEIF International Certificate in Credit Analysis -
Emirates Institute of Finance
United Arab EmiratesSkills
- Wholesale Banking
- Credit Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Financial Analysis
- Credit Proposals Preparation
- Portfolio Management
- Client Relationship Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Market Analysis
- Team Leadership
Websites
Languages
English (Fluent)
Fluent
Sinhala (Native)
Native
Accomplishments
Awarded "Best Performing New Branch Winner" for Financial Year 2014.
Awarded "Best Performing New Branch Winner" for Financial Year 2013.
Projects
“Automated Credit Evaluator”
Apr 2003 – Apr 2004
A software solely developed for the final year project to automate the initial credit evaluation process of the bank which was approved by University of Colombo and endorsed by Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC.
Affiliations
- Creative Writing (Lyric Composition & Reflective Poetry)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Relationship Officer - Wholesale Banking
Commercial Bank International
2024.05 - 2026.02
Senior Manager - Business Banking and Commercial Banking
Bankeye Consultants
2019.09 - 2023.11
Senior Zonal Credit Manager - Commercial Banking
Nations Trust Bank PLC
2016.06 - 2019.08
Branch Manager
DFCC Bank PLC
2012.11 - 2016.05
Executive - Operations
DFCC Vardhana Bank PLC
2012.04 - 2012.11
Junior Executive Officer
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
2007.09 - 2012.04
Junior Executive Assistant
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
2003.04 - 2007.09
Banking Assistant
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
1998.10 - 2003.04
Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) -
University of Colombo
EIF International Certificate in Credit Analysis -
Emirates Institute of Finance