Gambia’s 14th Commercial Bank Opens

NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA(MB)-Zenith Bank (Gambia) Ltd located at Kairaba Avenue opened its doors to the public on Monday 18 January 2010, and joined the banking industry as the fourteenth commercial bank in The Gambia.
The bank was on 30 December 2009 issued an operation license by the Central Bank of The Gambia after meeting the conditions to operate in the country, according to a media release. Zenith Bank (Gambia) Ltd is a subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc, a Nigerian banking giant and one of African’s biggest commercial banks, the release added.
“Established in May 1990 and commencing operations in July of that same year, Zenith Bank Plc ranks amongst the leading and most profitable banks in Nigeria, raking in profit after tax of over US $100 million in the third quarter of 2009, and is one of the six largest banks in Africa with shareholder funds of US$3billion.
Zenith Bank, the release stated, boasts of twenty years of financial management and strong values as pillars that have made its brand widely recognised and accepted in an internationally competitive banking industry.
“Its values are deeply imbedded in its commitment to the delivery of superior and tailor-made service experiences to all its customers at all times”.
“We seek to develop deeper and broader relationships with all our clients and also strive to understand their individual and industry peculiarities with a view to developing specific solutions for each sector of our customer base, using our robust technology platform and excellent service delivery.
“We hope to expand our business through the establishment of key subsidiaries for the provision of non-bank financial services to accentuate the service offering and experience of our customers, whilst continually enhancing our processes and system platforms to deliver new capabilities and improve operational efficiencies and achieve economies of scale”.
According to the release, the bank has over 300 branches and business offices in Nigeria alone, as well as tentacles spread across Africa and the United Kingdom.
People, technology, and service are the values that underpin the bank’s core activities.
The release referred to The Gambia’s Vision 2020 development blueprint, and said Zenith Bank (Gambia) Ltd will work “in close collaboration with the government and people of The Gambia to ensure rapid and sustainable development for all”
Some of the bank’s accolades and achievements, as highlighted by the release, all are:
- Best Global Bank (2008) from African Bankers Award
- Best Bank in Nigeria (2008) from Euro Money
- Best Bank in ICT (2008), Best Bank in Export Finance (2008) from Vanguard Bankers Award
- Bank of the Year 2008, Corporate Citizen of the Year 2008, CEO of the Year 2008, Most Corporate Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria 2007, from This Day Award of Excellence
- Most Customer-focused Bank (2008) from CMPG
- Africa’s Bank of the Year (2007) from Africa Investor
- Quoted Company of the Year (2007) from Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE)
- Most Corporate Socially Responsible Bank in Africa (2007) from African Banker
- Best Collecting Bank (2007) from Federal Inland Revenue Service
- AAA Ratings for 10 years from Augusto and Co.