For the fourth time since 2019, Zenith Bank Plc has taken home the title of Best Bank in Nigeria at the Global Finance Best Banks Awards 2024. The Bank was one of 36 African banks that were acknowledged when the esteemed Global Finance revealed the winners of its 31st Annual Best Bank Awards.
The choices were determined by the editors of Global Finance following in-depth discussions with analysts, bankers, and corporate finance leaders across the globe. A variety of factors, from the informed subjective to the quantitative objective, were taken into account while choosing the top banks. The following objective factors were taken into consideration: asset growth, profitability, geographic reach, strategic alliances, new business development, and product innovation. Opinions from banking advisors, credit rating agencies, equity analysts, and other industry participants were included in the subjective criteria.
Commenting on the award, the outgoing Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “This award serves as a powerful affirmation of our resilience and tenacity despite headwinds and a very challenging macroeconomic environment. Indeed, it is a testament to our status as the leading financial institution in Nigeria, dedicated unwaveringly to delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders”.
He sent his sincere gratitude to Jim Ovia, CFR, the founder and chairman, for his extraordinary vision and pivotal role in creating a stable and long-lasting financial organisation. He also praised the personnel for their enduring dedication and steadfast commitment, the consumers for their consistent allegiance to the Zenith brand, and the board for their keen insights and exceptional leadership.
“Banking has reached another watershed moment with the debut of generative artificial intelligence, which promises to rewrite the industry playbook,” stated Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance. “The Best Bank Awards recognise the financial institutions that offer the broadest range of services, long-term reliability, and technological innovation in this ever-changing environment,” he continued.
The most coveted and reputable awards in the banking industry, the Global Finance “Best Banks Awards” are recognised by the most powerful banking, finance, and corporate professionals worldwide. Winners are selected from 150 countries and territories in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Western Europe.
Since its founding in 1987, Global Finance has chosen the best banks and other financial services providers on a yearly basis. The awards have grown to be recognised as an industry benchmark for excellence.
Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being recognised as the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023, being listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023; being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 14th consecutive year, in the 2023 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022 and 2023; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for four successive years from 2020 to 2023, by the Ethical Boardroom; Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.
Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021; Bank of the Year 2023 and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Similarly, Zenith Bank was named Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022 by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.
