FBNBank has been recognised as the ‘Outstanding SME Bank of the Year’ at this year’s Ghana Business Standard Awards in Accra.
The Ghana Business Standard Awards were instituted three years ago by KN Unique Communications, aiming to promote and celebrate the outstanding achievements of organisations; acknowledge industry leaders turning strategy into action; as well as businesses chalking up undisputable success across the Ghanaian business region. The theme for the awards was ‘Celebrating Companies and Individuals Committed to Remarkable Business Standards’.
The award was presented by Patrick Nana Asiedu, Awarding Board Member, and received on behalf of FBNBank by Semiu Lamidi, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, and Mohammed Ozamah, Executive Director & Chief Risk Officer – supported by William Amon Neequaye, Head of Commercial Banking, and Enoch Vanderpuye, Country Team Lead, Marketing & Corporate Communications.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Semiu Lamidi of FBNBank said: “We are delighted by the recognition. This is yet another testament of our contribution so far in the financial sector, particularly the SME space. This will serve as a great boost to our efforts even as we strengthen our position in our 25th anniversary year to be able to deliver greater value.
“The current opportunities offered by AfCFTA, trade with the European Union, the US and other bilateral partners require that we position our SMEs to effectively maximise the benefits available. We have over the years supported our SMEs and we remain passionately committed in working with them to achieve success, and also to inject growth into Ghana’s economy. Our responsibility here is underpinned by our Brand Promise, which enjoins us to offer the ‘ultimate gold standard for value and excellence’ to our clients and customers”.
The award comes in a milestone year for FBNBank, which has witnessed a renewed commitment in its very first month to remain SME-focused. To deliver on this commitment, FBNBank draws on being part of a trade hub that has grown economies for 127 years in Africa, Europe and China, and for 25 years in Ghana.
Commenting on the award, Victor Yaw Asante, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer-FBNBank said: “Since 1996 when we commenced operations in Ghana, our focus has not shifted from SMEs. At the beginning of 2021 – which also happens to be our 25th anniversary year, we reaffirmed our commitment to this sector when we announced our anniversary celebrations.
“Over these years, FBNBank has provided an exciting range of support – including a sector-specific-array of financial products and services, capacity-building and thought-leadership to the SME segment of Ghana’s economy; and our support did not wane during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For us it is an unwavering commitment to SMEs, and it is exciting to see it’s not only paying off by way of contributing to Ghana’s economy but also that we are being recognised for it. This should serve as a motivator for our team who relentlessly and passionately drive the SME agenda. I personally dedicate this award to them. They have shown that they have, as always, lived the FBNBank brand by putting the SME clients first.”
FBNBank Ghana has since 1996, in line with the agenda of its 127-year-old parent company – First Bank of Nigeria Limited, supported SMEs in several sectors including manufacturing, export and import. This, it has sought to do through the rich value and excellence of what the bank contributes to the relationship with its clients. FBNBank Ghana has 20 branches and two agencies across the country with almost 500 staff to offer universal banking services to individuals and businesses in Ghana.
