The competition
With a record number of entries received for this year's competition the Bank of the Year and Banker of the Year categories both have seven nominees competing for a trophy.
Anglophone and Francophone Africa are near evenly matched in the Banker of the Year category where the shortlisted candidates are: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, managing director of Access Bank, Nigeria; Amadou Kane, president directeur general, Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'Industrie du Sénégal (BICIS), Senegal; Bisi Onasanya, group managing director and CEO of FirstBank of Nigeria; James Benoit, CEO and executive director of AfrAsia Bank, Mauritius; Olusegun Agbaje, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria; Othman Benjelloun, chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank Group, Morocco; and Pa Macoumba M. Njie, managing director of Trust Bank, The Gambia.
Nigeria and South Africa compete neck and neck in the highly anticipated Bank of the Year category with Access Bank, FirstBank of Nigeria, Standard Bank Group, and Standard Chartered in the running; however they face stiff competition from heavyweights Equity Bank, Kenya; Attijariwafa Bank, Morocco; and Ecobank (ETI), Togo.
However, it is East Africa that dominates the Financial Inclusion category with the line-up comprising Banque Rwandaise de Développement (BRD), Rwanda; BRAC Tanzania; Equity Bank, Kenya; Banque Populaire, Morocco; and Trust Merchant Bank SARL, DR Congo.
The Best Retail Bank category makes its debut this year with the first-time nominee Coris Bank International, Burkina Faso going up against the previously shortlisted candidates Diamond Bank, Nigeria, Millennium BIM, Mozambique, Banque Populaire, Morocco, and the National Bank of Egypt.
African Bank of the Year
African Banker of the Year
Investment Bank of the Year
Award for Innovation in Banking
Socially Responsible Bank of the Year
Award for Financial Inclusion
Deal of the Year
Bond Deal of the Year
Investment Fund/Private Equity Fund of the Year
Best Retail Bank in Africa
Commenting on this year's entries Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of African Banker magazine, said, "We are excited to recognise and celebrate these African champions in Arusha during the AfDB annual meetings. The entries have become stronger year on year, and the committee is impressed by the role financial institutions are playing in driving growth, especially the increasing number of big ticket deals and also smaller ones, creating a blueprint for others to replicate."
The awards, organised by African Banker magazine, IC Events and BusinessinAfrica Events, brings together over 300 key industry players and top government officials from Africa and around the world to celebrate excellence and best practices in African banking and finance.
An independent panel of judges, known and respected for their expertise on the African banking and finance industry, will decide the final winners of each category.
Mediterranean Smart Cards Company (MSCC) is the Platinum sponsor for this year's African Banker Awards. Other sponsors include the Ecobank and Nedbank Alliance, Harland Financial Solutions, Giesecke & Devrient, Air Charter Logistics and BIAT.