The 12th edition of the Ghana Banking Awards held at the Event Haven at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra once again lived up to expectation as deserving banks in the country were rewarded for their excellent perofrmance in the sector.
The awards, under the auspices of Corporative Initiative Ghana (CIG), was on the theme, “Promoting Ethics, Integrity and Compliance in the Financial Services Sector” and also attracted many captians of the banking sector among many others.
After what could be described as a tensed night, Ecobank Ghana Limited, beat all other competitors to annex the most prestigious award, “Bank of the Year 2012” a category sponsored by the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
The Bank of the Year goes the bank with the highest weighted scores for the customer survey, corporate social responsibility and financial perfoemance. Scores earned by each bank in Corporate Bank of the year, Retail Bank of the Year and Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Peroprmance were used, based on weightings agreed to by the banks. The single most indicative factore is the Financial Perofmance.
A visibly elated Executive Director of the Bank, Mr George Mensah Asante later in an interview did not mince words as he explained how the bank had put what he described as a lot of hard work to ensure that it gave its customers what they wanted.
According to him, it was a proof of their hard work in the year under review and promised all existing clients and prospective ones not to look any further for best banking services than the “Pan African Bank”, which is one of the largest banks on the African continent.
Prudential Bank also bounced with a lot of force as it took home three awards and was also mentioned as runner ups in eight categories to the surprise of the mammoth crowd at the event.
It was the Best Bank in Long- Term Financing, Trade Financing and Consumer Lending. The bank was also the First Runner ups in Best Bank Retail, IT/ Electronic Banking and Short Term Loan Financing. It was also the Second Runner Up in Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Banking.
Unibank Ghana Limited was picked as the Best Bank in Short Term Loan Financing, IT and Electronic, and Retail Banking and was the first runner up under the Best Bank Long Term Loan Finance, Consumer Lending, and Corporate Social Responsibility categories.
Zenith Bank took the Best Bank in Corporate Banking and was the second runner up under the Best Bank in Long Term Loan Finance, and Short Term Loan Finance, and the first runner up in the Best Bank in Trade Finance categories.
The Trade Finance Dealer of the Year 2012 category was jointly won by Cal Bank Ghana Limited, Guarantee Trust Bank Limited, Zennith Bank, and HFC Bank Limited.
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) performanced creditably as it was adjudged the Agric Finance Dealer of the Year 2012, the Best Bank in Medium Term Loans, and the Best Bank in Corporate Social Responsibility. It was however the second runner up under the best Bank in Competitive Pricing category.
The rest are Best Growing Bank for the Year 2012; Access Bank Ghana Limited, Best Bank in Mobile Banking for Year 2012, Guarantee Trust Bank; Best in Customer Care and Best in Bank Advisory Services was awarded to First Atlantic Merchant Bank respectively.
Standbic Bank won the first runner up under the Best Bank in Financial Performance, Mobile Banking, Competitive Pricing, and Medium Term Loans Financing for the year 2012.
International Commercial Bank was the first and second runner up under the Best Bank in Customer Care and Best Bank in Advisory Services categories while Fidelity Bank was the second runner up under the Best Bank in Trade Finance category.
United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Bank of Africa were also named as the second runner up under the IT and Electronic Banking, and Consumer Lending categories respectively.
There were however no winners for the Best Bank in Innovation and Export Financing because none of the banks could accumulate the required scores.
The event also witnessed the conferment of Life Time Achievement Awards on three individuals; Mrs Stephanie Baeta- Ansah, Dr Quabina Quansah and Mr J. S. Addo for their sterling contributions to the banking sector in Ghana.
Mrs Baeta- Ansah who rose through the ranks to become the Managing Director of HFC Bank Ghana, then Home Finance Company Limited from 1990 to 2005 could not hide her joy after being honoured.
She recounted how she was able to surpass all challenges and was able to leave a legacy in home financing, something she is being rewarded for.
Mr Addo, on his part urged banks to improve their access to credit to the export finance sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in order to work together for the growth of the economy.
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