Sidian Bank, KCB, DTB Bank shine at the Bankers Africa Awards 2016

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) emerged as the best Commercial and retail bank in East Africa at the Bankers Africa Awards 2016 organised by Bankers Arica East Africa and CPI Financial in collaboration by Business Daily.

Whoop! We bagged it! 🙌🙌 KCB is the Best Commercial Bank in Kenya #BankerAfricaAwards pic.twitter.com/Ho10YmymEC

— KCB Group (@KCBGroup) May 24, 2016

Habil Olaka, the Kenya Bankers Association’s Chief Executive Officer said, “Banks are a key catalyst to economic growth, we must guard trust in the sector.”

He further noted that in 2015, the banking industry advanced KSH 2.29 billion to various sectors of the economy.

“Our growth must remain diversified and inclusive,” said Mohammed Nyaoga, the Chairman Central Bank of Kenya during the occasion.  “East African banks are not just thinking out of the box, they’ve thrown away the box,” he added.

Joshua Oigara, the CEO at KCB was also named the CEO of the year in the East African region.

Our Captain @JoshuaOigara has been named CEO of the Year in East Africa at the #BankerAfricaAwards 👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/EtTqKjYcaI

— KCB Group (@KCBGroup) May 24, 2016

The awards are meant to recognise not the largest commercial banks in the region as per capital base but the most advanced in technology and customer friendliness among other factors.

Sidian Bank was awarded for being the best emerging Markets Bank.

Titus Karanja, Sidian Bank’s CEO at the side-lines on Wednesday where they signed a Kshs 10 billion financing deal with Uber Kenya to enable qualified Uber drivers access up to 100 per cent finance, said that was, “A big step for us because the Bankers Awards are where other bankers vote within the industry and say whom do we think is the best corporate bank, the best emerging bank.

“This was a very big thing for us because our program of transformation did not start at rebranding.  We had been in a program of transforming for the whole year. The rebrand was only the visibility that we brought. ”

Going forward for Sidian, Karanja says, “Today we are now beginning on phase two of business initiatives as has been witnessed with the partnership with Uber.”

Now with the award, the CEO says, “The nod from our peers is a promise that we are going to be bigger tomorrow. With this kind of initiative is our delivery on that expectation. They expect us to move forward with speed and innovation that was what the category demands of us. ”

He noted that in the coming months, Sidian is going to be consistent in tailoring its products to be better.

“Sidian bank is interested in taking the nexus of technology and financial services to do better products for the customers. This nexus of technology is not necessary the bank investing in technology but partnering with people who have innovative technology like Uber who can help us manage our customers better.”

Other banks that were awarded include Diamond Trust Bank for having the best online platform in Kenya and East Africa.

We just bagged the Best Online Platform in Kenya as well as in East Africa awards at the #BankerAfricaAwards 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/YILPJepsuy

— Juma and Natasha (@DTBduo) May 24, 2016

CfC Stanbic Holdings Limited was awarded for being the best corporate bank in Kenya.

NIC Bank was awarded for being the best in customer service.

NIC Bank just won Best Customer Service – Kenya at the Banker Africa EA Awards! Thank you for voting for us 😊 pic.twitter.com/De5PuTNYgF

— NCBA Bank (@NCBABankKenya) May 24, 2016

Schalk Nolte, CEO of the Entersekt (deals in authentication and mobile security solutions make the digital world safer to bank)   announced that during the event, the company won an award for being the most innovative technology provider in East Africa.  “We are very proud to be recognized by customers and peers,” he said on his Twitter Feed.