Citibank NA has been honored as the best bank in Kenya at the Think Business Banking Awards 2024.
Standard Chartered and Equity came in at position two and three, respectively in the same category.
Citibank also emerged top in internet banking, corporate banking, and product innovation categories.
Other major winners included I&M Group PLC, recognized as the best customer-centric bank, and HFC, which was awarded for excellence in mortgage finance.
Equity Bank was celebrated for its leadership in trade finance and retail banking, while KCB was distinguished as the best bank in digital banking.
A highlight of the event was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Richard Etemesi, chairman of Standard Chartered Bank.
With a remarkable 24-year tenure at Standard Chartered, Etemesi has served in various capacities across Kenya, Singapore, Uganda, Zambia and the UK.
Notably also, Kariuki Ngugi, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank was recognised as the Chief Executive Officer of the year, while Lucy Kagia was awarded outstanding young banker of the year.
Themed 'Making The Transition Towards Green Banking,' this year’s awards emphasised the importance of ethical banking practices, environmental protection, and social responsibility with a main of inspiring banks to adopt sustainable practices.
The founder and CEO of Think Business Ochieng Oloo while speaking at the event, highlighted the critical role of green banking in today’s financial landscape.
“Green banks not only commit to financing environmentally sustainable projects, but also advocate for reducing carbon footprints through initiatives like paperless transactions and online banking," Oloo said.
“Our goal is to drive the banking sector towards long-term sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly policies and practices. These awards are designed to spur competition, innovation, prudence and stability in the banking industry, showcasing the best performers and enabling the public to make informed banking decisions."
