Bank One Limited has once again attained the prestigious title of “Best Mass Affluent Banking Offering” at the 2023 Global Retail Banking Innovation (GRB) Awards, presented by The Digital Banker. This marks the bank’s second victory in this category within three years, building upon our earlier acknowledgment in 2021.
The GRB Awards recognize and celebrate financial institutions that combine cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches to provide outstanding experiences, products, and services to their customers.
Mark Watkinson, CEO of Bank One, commented on the significance of this title for the bank: “Africa’s population is expected to triple by the end of the century. While this presents many challenges, we also see enormous opportunities for everyone, including Mauritius and the financial services sector. Bank One aims to become a bridge to Africa and better cater to the needs of affluent clients in sub-Saharan Africa, a rapidly growing segment. This is not the first time we have won this prestigious award. We received it in 2021 as well, and our commitment to innovation and meeting the unique financial needs of affluent clients in sub-Saharan Africa has only strengthened since then. This award confirms the importance we place on this segment and that we are on the right track.”
Bhavya Shah, Head of Personal Financial Services at Bank One, added: “We have expanded our Elite Banking proposition to better address the offshore banking needs of affluent clients in Africa, as we found that they were underserved and lacked access to the financial solutions they needed to truly thrive. Bank One provides a reliable jurisdiction to cultivate and grow their wealth, access international markets and expertise, and effectively manage their finances, especially when living and working in different countries, having families living abroad, or having financial interests that span multiple geographies.” He further stated, “With our teams now physically present in Kenya and Uganda, we look forward to continually enhancing our range of services and footprint to better meet the unique expectations of clients in the sub-Saharan Africa region.”
The “Best Mass Affluent Banking Offering” award in the Highly Acclaimed category further solidifies Bank One’s position as a key player in the financial services sector of the region.
Bank One is the result of a joint venture between CIEL Finance Limited in Mauritius and I&M Group PLC based in Kenya. Over the last decade, it has built a strong customer base of over 50,000 clients, a dedicated team of over 425 professionals, and an asset base of over Rs 45 billion. Bank One offers a range of banking products and services through its 7 branches and currently has a network of ATMs spread across the island. The bank also plays a leading role in supporting businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Bank One has been assigned a long-term issuer default rating of “BB-” with a stable outlook by the Fitch rating agency.