The prevailing pandemic created a paradox... staying close whilst socially distancing. Within this paradox, SDB bank found opportunities to grow its “connections” with all stakeholders. Our relationships were maintained undiminished with small scale shareholders at grass root levels as well as with large institutional investors and international funding lines. In this the Bank enjoys the advantage of a strong foundational structure and ethos that always promotes the values of empathy and purpose in every aspect of enterprise. As passionately involved as we are with the advancement of stakeholder interests, the opportunities arising out of the “new order” of things make us passionately optimistic for the years ahead.