Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank Limited at Pakyi No 2 in the Amansie West district of Ashanti Region has been adjudged CIMG Rural Bank of the Year 2021 by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG).
The bank is a 5-time recipient of this prestigious award and for two consecutive years. Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank won the 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021 edition.
The 2021 award was on the theme ‘The Creative Marketing and Innovation in a Volatile Global Economy’, and sought to acknowledge individuals and organisations for their excellence and innovations in the field of Marketing.
This year’s awards as usual had several categories, including CIMG Hall of Fame, Personalities, Media, Business, and Product among others.
The Governing Council of the CIMG – in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Association of Rural Banks-Ghana, ARB Apex Bank, AGI, GNCCI, MOTI, National Insurance Commission, Ghana Association of Bankers and research institutions among others – played an active role in the selection process.
CIMG president Dr. Daniel Kasser Tee, commended businesses for their inputs to economic growth, but however charged them to continue rationalising their operations in view of Ghana’s economic challenges.
In a citation presented to the bank, Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank is poised to be the leading and preferred rural bank in Ghana, with an aim to transform and improve the lives and businesses of its stakeholders.
By the estimation of its assessors, AKRB achieved this feat through the dedicated efforts of its highly motivated and competent human resource base, customer-driven products and use of appropriate technology.
These are further evidenced by the introduction of three amazing products in the year under review, and these include Bank Assurance, AKRB Mobile App and Customer Appreciation with a touch of culture which the bank’s patrons still talk about and hold in high regard, culminating in a market share of 9.14% (in terms of deposit for 144 RCBs) and total income of GH₵50,104,389.
The bank’s CSR schemes in the areas of community development, education and health remain plausible, as its patrons continue to give applause for them.
The panel of evaluators noted with passion the bank’s exploits in the year under review, and duly conferred on Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank the CIMG Rural Bank of the Year 2021 award.
The CIMG National Marketing Performance Awards is a high-profile event that acknowledges individuals and organisations for marketing excellence and innovation. The awards seek among other things to promote high professional standards and encourage excellence among marketing practitioners. It also aims at ensuring the provision of high-quality products and services.
Commenting on the award, CEO of the bank, Samuel Bonsu Sekyere, said to be recognised as Rural Bank of the Year in such a prestigious award scheme comes with a lot of challenges to maintain or improve upon the bank’s performance.
“As a bank with this recognition, we must spare no effort in living up to the expectation of excellence and ensuring that we do things right – particularly in the area of corporate governance and regulatory compliance; and be persistent with our vision and mission while continuing to be the pacesetters in rural banking,” he stressed.
Mr. Bonsu Sekyere finally dedicated the award to all the bank’s shareholders, employees and customers for their commitment to the AKRB brand.
