Zenith Bank Plc has, for the fourth time in the last five years, been adjudged as the Best Bank in Nigeria at the Global Finance Best Banks Awards 2024.
The bank has been winning the award back to back since 2019.
The bank said in a statement on Tuesday that it was among the other banks from 36 countries in Africa recognised as the Global Finance announced its 31st Annual Best Bank Awards Winners.
“The editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts worldwide.
“Factors considered in selecting the top banks ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective.
“Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products.
“Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry,” the statement said.
Commenting on the award, the outgoing GMD/CEO of the bank, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said the award “is a powerful affirmation of our resilience and tenacity despite headwinds and a very challenging macroeconomic environment.”
He added that “it is a testament to our status as the leading financial institution in Nigeria, dedicated unwaveringly to delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders.”
The statement also quoted the publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, Mr Joseph Giarraputo as saying: “Banking has reached another watershed moment with the debut of generative artificial intelligence, which promises to rewrite the industry playbook.
“In this ever-changing environment, the Best Bank Awards recognise the financial institutions that offer the broadest range of services, long-term reliability, and technological innovation.”
Global Finance’s “Best Banks Awards” is recognised amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in 150 countries and territories across Africa, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other financial services providers and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.
Zenith Bank is a recipient of numerous award, including but not limited to the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023, 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 – 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, among others.
