Equity Bank emerged as the overall Best Bank in Kenya for the eighth time at this year’s Think Business Banking Awards, with Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi scooping the CEO of the Year Award for the third time consecutively.
Equity Bank bagged 18 awards, garnering the top slots in 12 categories – Best Bank in Tier 1, Best Bank with the lowest charges for Individuals, The Most Customer-Centric Bank, Best Bank in Mobile Banking, Best Bank in Internet Banking, Best Bank in Agency Banking, Best Bank in Product Marketing, Best Bank in SME Banking, Best Bank in Agriculture and Livestock Financing, Best Commercial Bank in Micro Finance, Best Bank in CSR, and Best Bank in Digital Banking.
The awards validate Equity Bank’s strategy and pursuit of financial inclusion while giving customers freedom, choice and control.
Speaking at the awarding ceremony last weekend, founder and CEO of Think Business Ochieng’ Oloo said: “Banks are now able to make entries online and benchmark themselves against their peers, and raise the standards in the banking industry. In addition, this year we introduced a portal where banks can see the award criteria and the award entries.”
Equity Bank also emerged first runners-up in three categories; Best Bank in Trade Financing, Best Bank in Retail Banking, and Best Bank in Mortgage Finance. It was second runners-up in Best Banking in Corporate Banking.
The awards come a few days after Equity Bank was shortlisted for this year’s African Banker Awards, whose winners will be announced at the award ceremony during the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings, taking place next month in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, reflecting Equity’s brand strength and performance on the continent.
Commenting on the awards, Mwangi noted that the awards were a testament to the Bank’s efforts to drive financial inclusion anchored by a strong culture of innovation and self-disruption.
“These awards are a validation of the sustained effort and expertise we have put in towards ensuring that as many of our people are able to access banking through the development of technologically-led solutions that will truly benefit the real economy, “he said.
Dr Mwangi also noted that the Bank had consistently won the award for Best Bank in Digital Banking, noting that it was a sign that the Bank’s efforts in growing its digital banking offering were paying off.
“Equity’s strategy is to be the region’s leading digital bank delivering a remarkable client experience across key digital touch points. We have witnessed how the rapid adoption of mobile and other digital channels has transformed how people are now banking. As a bank, we shall continue to perfect our product offering to become more responsive to customers’ emerging needs and preferences.”
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The Think Business Banking Awards have been held annually since 2006. The awards are won on a combination of merits, including financial soundness, opinion polls, market research and professional assessments. The overall winner, The Best Bank in Kenya, is usually the bank with an all-round appeal.
