First Bank has emerged as the Best Corporate Bank at the recent Euromoney Awards for Excellence, Nigeria 2023.

First Bank, in a statement on Friday, February 9, 2024, said it clinched the coveted award based on its 130-year commitment to enabling its corporate customers achieve success through relevant and tailored financial solutions.

Speaking on the award, the CEO of First Bank Group, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we have been recognised as the Best Corporate Bank in Nigeria at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023.

“We say a heartfelt thank you to all our incredible customers for trusting us. This award is dedicated to you.”

The bank further quoted Euromoney as saying: “Awards for Excellence is the definitive annual awards programme of the global banking industry.

Femi Otedola is Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank Holdings

“The awards represent the highest distinction to the banks and bankers who matter most in an industry where differentiation is highly sought after and exceptionally difficult to demonstrate.

“For over 30 years, Euromoney has recognised the banks and that have demonstrated their differentiation, pioneering a comprehensive awards programme that today remains the industry benchmark globally.”

The bank added: “First Bank’s continuous investment in technology has been crucial to its leading industry role in optimally meeting the needs of its corporate customers.

“Recent investments in technology include the development of its smart and interactive Transaction Banking Platform known as FirstDirect2.0.

“FirstDirect2.0 provides a one-stop shop online banking platform for corporates, offering best-in-class capabilities such as Payments, Collections, and Account Services, and a locally focused phased implementation of Trade and Supply Chain Finance – a first for the Bank.

“The platform offers customers various solutions for corporate cash management (Payments, Collections and Liquidity Management).

“It will also deliver end-to-end trade solutions for corporate clients covering L/C creation, tracking, bidding and reconciliations.

“The Bank’s Corporate Banking model is focused on ensuring that its clients get the same quality of service across the Bank’s geographical locations.

“The execution of this approach through the deployment of the Global Account Management (GAM) Framework, implemented to enhance cross-relationship management tailored to Customers with a Pan African footprint.”

The Star