The Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, Mr. Farid Antar, has been recognized as CEO of the Year 2021 – Private Bank Category in Ghana. The award was conferred on him at the Corporate Ghana Awards 2021 held at the Movenpick Ambassadorial Hotel in December, 2021.
The award is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the financial services sector of Ghana over the past three years. An excerpt from the citation to honor him stated; “As the Managing Director of Republic Bank Ghana, you have been a Pillar, Support and Inspiration to many within the Financial Services Sector of Ghana”.
Speaking on the award, Mr. Antar thanked the award organisers for the special recognition and dedicated the award to Executives and Staff of Republic Bank. “Although leadership is essential, most important is the support and commitment of all staff to the bank’s vision. The Board of Directors, my fellow Executives, Managers and the entire Staff body of the bank have been supportive ever since I joined the Bank in Ghana from Trinidad and Tobago”.
According to Mr. Antar, he takes pride in the bank’s progress and achievements over the last three years and the significant contribution by each staff. “As staff of the bank, we all know where we are going and how to get there; and I must say that we have made significant strides over the last three years. My special recognition goes to my predecessors, who laid a solid foundation for a smooth ride for me. I must also pay tribute to our customers for their patience, support and buy-in to the bank’s value proposition,” he said.
Recounting major its milestones over the last three years, the Managing Director of Republic Bank said the bank has been full of activities for the past three years, retooling and innovating for superior banking convenience and experience for customers. “We have given many of our banking halls major facelifts; including construction of the Republic Court situated at the prestigious Ridge Roundabout enclave. Republic Bank has also massively invested in and improved its Technology and Electronic Payment Systems with the introduction of RepublicMobile Ghana App and other digital suites to offer convenience to our Customers and Ghanaians.”
Mr. Antar hinted at the introduction of fantastic credit cards, which are set to be unveilled within the first quarter of 2022. The bank has also improved upon its Information Security Systems and is now certified by ISO/IEC and PCIDSS. “We have developed an SME Toolkit to support SME Businesses gain knowledge as they work toward growth and business expansion. Again, Republic Bank introduced its Seven Service Elements last year and has invested in building the capacity of Staff to deliver superior service.”
Mr. Antar also added that during the upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic, Republic Bank made a promise to its customers to weather the storm with them. The bank became the first to announce a loan moratorium and other interventions for customers. It also supported various health centres in the fight by donating a cumulative sum of GH¢1.2million. Recently, Republic Bank announced two new innovative mortgage repayment options – also the first of their kind, to save customers and prospects up to 40% of their mortgage interest cost; thus allowing them make early repayment, Mr. Antar added.
Mr. Farid Antar is an experienced banker with over 42 years of professional and practical exposure in the banking and financial services industry of Trinidad & Tobago and in Barbados, both in the Caribbean. Prior to joining Republic Bank Ghana as MD, he was the General Manager-Enterprise Risk Management and Chief Risk Officer at Republic Financial Holdings Limited, the parent company of Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC. He previously served as General Manager-Corporate Operations & Process Improvement, Senior Manager-Regional Operations (Overseas), Senior Manager-Business Transformation;
Senior Manager-Retail Delivery & Marketing, Manager-Product Parameterisation & Business Growth and Marketing Manager-Personal & Commercial Lending. Mr. Antar, until recently, was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Republic Caribbean Investments Limited, Atlantic Financial Limited and Republic Bank (Suriname) Holdings Limited; a Director of G4S Holdings (Trinidad) Limited and the London Street Project Company Limited; and a Trustee for The Caribbean Court of Justice Trust Fund (CCJTF).
