This year again, there were many bankers and managers looking for the grail at the African Banker Trophies.
The suspense lasted the time of a business evening where African banking geography, expanding universe, will be granted on a few names and especially a name, that of banker of the year.
Thus, BGFI in Gabon won the Regional Bank Trophy of the year in Central Africa.
The title of Socially Responsible Bank of the Year was awarded to the Moroccan group BMCE Bank of Africa, considered a leader in sustainable finance. The Financial Inclusion Trophy went to Crédit Agricole du Maroc.
Ecobank won two Trophies, Innovation and Retail Bank of the Year for how it has integrated technology to significantly expand its product range and win more of customers.
East Africa dominated the Trophies this year. CEO of Equity Group Holdings Plc in Kenya, James Mwangi, has been named Banker of the Year. His bank has shown impressive growth through a series of innovations and diversified investments other than consumer credit. Equity Group also won the coveted African Bank of the Year Trophy. Tanzanian Dr. Benno Ndulu, a former governor of the Central Bank who completed his second term last year, was named Governor of the Year for his work in the field of financial inclusion and for his excellent macroeconomic management. CRDB, another Tanzanian institution, has won the award for best regional bank in East Africa.
South African banks dominated the Deal of the Year and Investment Bank of the Year categories. Standard Bank Group has won three Trophies, so that of Investment Bank of the Year. Standard Bank and Rand Merchant Bank of South Africa were awarded the Deal of the Year Award in Infrastructure. The $ 5 billion corridor in Mozambique and Malawi is one of the largest privately funded infrastructure projects. The project covers 912 km of railway from Tete province in western Mozambique to the deepwater port of Nacala on the east coast through Malawi. Rand Merchant Bank in South Africa received a Trophy for the stock exchange listing of Steinhoff Africa Retail last year. South African Stephen Koseff, co-founder of Investec, won the exemplary Career Trophy.
Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of African Banker, hailed the progress of the banks selected for the 2018 Trophies: “The winners of the African Banker Trophies illustrate the innovation and dynamism of the African banking market. The categories that appeal to me the most this year are the Deals of the Year and Innovation. They reflect the strength of the banking sector. I can not stress enough the important role that financial services play in the development of the continent. ”
This is the first time that the African Banker Trophies are held in South Korea, specifically in the port city of Busan. As a shareholder of the African Development Bank, South Korea is hosting the General Assemblies this year to strengthen its longstanding ties with Africa.
The 12th African Banker Trophies, organized by African Banker magazine and BusinessinAfricaEvents, took place at the Paradise Hotel in Busan. The Awards, under the patronage of the African Development Bank, are sponsored by the African Guarantee Fund (Platinum Sponsor), Bank of Industry (Gold Sponsor) and Banco Nacional de Investimento de Mozambique (Silver Sponsor). Other sponsors include Afreximbank and Crédit Agricole du Maroc.
AWARD WINNERS AFRICAN BANKER 2018
African banker of the year
James Mwangi, Equity Group Holdings LP, Kenya
Lifetime achievement award
Stephen Koseff, co-founder Investec
African Bank of the Year
Equity Group Holdings Plc, Kenya
Retail Bank of the Year
Ecobank
Investment Bank of the Year
Standard Bank
Financial inclusion trophy
Crédit Agricole Group (Morocco)
Socially responsible bank of the year
BMCE Bank of Africa (Morocco)
Innovation Trophy
Ecobank
Deal of the Year – Acquisition
Steinhoff Africa Retail Listing – Rand Merchant Bank (South Africa)
Deal of the Year – Bonds
$ 300 million Diaspora bond, Nigeria
Standard Bank / FBNQuest Merchant Bank (Nigeria)
Deal of the year – Infrastructures
Railway Corridor and Nacala Port
Standard Bank / Rand Merchant Bank (South Africa)
Regional Bank of the Year
East Africa – CRDB (Tanzania)
West Africa – BDM (Mali)
North Africa – CIB, Egypt
