Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the best bank in Nigeria in the 2024 Global Finance Best Banks Awards, winning the award for the fourth time since 2019.

Zenith Bank was among other banks from 36 countries in Africa recognised as the prestigious Global Finance announced its 31st Annual Best Bank Awards winners.

Speaking on the award, the outgoing Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, in a statement issued on Monday, April 1, 2024, 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.”

Onyeagwu expressed his gratitude to the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, for his “exceptional vision and foundational role in establishing a resilient and enduring financial institution”.

He also lauded the board for “their astute insights and exemplary leadership, the staff for their steadfast commitment and unwavering dedication, and the customers for their staunch loyalty to the Zenith brand.”

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On his part, the publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, Joseph Giarraputo, said: “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.”

The statement added that editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts worldwide.

According to the statement, 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, while subjective criteria were the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants, and others involved in the industry.

Global Finance’s Best Banks Awards are 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, AsiaPacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and Western Europe.

The Star