Standard Bank is a top African banking group that focused on emerging markets globally. The bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division serves a broad range of client requirements around the world for banking, finance, investment, trading, risk management and advisory services. Standard Bank has received numerous awards such as the Best Investment Bank in Africa (Euromoney 2009), Best Bank for Payments and Collections in Africa (Global Finance Magazine 2009), Best Trade Finance Bank in sub-Saharan Africa (Global trade review 2009), African Bank of the Year (The Banker 2009), to name a few.
Barclays has had a presence in Kenya since 1925, offering personal and retail banking, and Barclaycard credit card services. Barclays Kenya is named the Best Bank in Corporate Banking at the Think Business Banking Awards 2010. It has also been named the Best Bank in Kenya by Global Finance magazine, and it was recognized as East Africa’s most respected financial services company in a 2007 survey by business consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) is one of the top banks in Mauritius, with a strong presence in countries overseas including Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Seychelles, Mayotte, Réunion Island, South Africa and France. In The Banker July 2010, MCB is ranked 743rd among the Top 1000 Banks; 25th in sub-Saharan Africa; 134th globally in terms of soundness; 42nd for Return on assets; and 116th for Profit on average capital. The bank also received accolades for Annual Report 2009, awarded by PricewaterhouseCoopers: Overall winner, best SEM-7 company and best website at their Corporate Reporting Awards.
Zenith Bank Plc is one of the biggest banks in Nigeria, with a shareholder base of about one million, an indication of the strength of the Zenith brand. The bank has received many top awards such as the Best Bank in Export Finance (Vanguard Bankers’ Award 2008), Most Corporate Socially Responsible Bank in Africa (African Banker 2007), Most Corporate Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria (This Day Award of Excellence 2007), and so on.
National Microfinance Bank (NMB) is the biggest bank in Tanzania and has the largest network of branches. It offers a wide range of banking products to individuals all over Tanzania. It also serves the financial needs of all types of business customers.
Please visit the relevant guide for more information on the largest African banks. The author, Loke Yuen Wong, holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University (UK) and a BCom degree from The University of Adelaide (Australia). Other qualifications include the Postgraduate Diploma in Bus. Administration, Diploma in Instructor Skills, Diploma in Inferential Statistics, Group Diploma in Accounting, Group Diploma in Management Accounting, Diploma in TEFL, ACCA CertIFR, Pre-Cert (ES) TESOL, Certificate in TEYL, Certificate in Managing Performance, Certificate in Book-keeping & Accounts and English for Commerce.