The Access Bank UK Ltd: Best Africa Trade Finance Bank 2019

Rola Seifeddine, Senior Executive Officer/Head of DIFC Branch (left) and Jamie Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer (right) receiving an award from CFI.co

With a presence in the financial hubs of London, Dubai and Lagos, The Access Bank UK is strategically positioned to unlock promising investment opportunities in emerging markets. The Access Bank UK is a subsidiary of the parent company Access Bank Plc, whose expansive branch network covers eight countries in West and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Access Bank UK’s exemplary corporate conduct has contributed to its continuous growth and consistently reliable returns. Despite growing in size and scope, The Access Bank UK has maintained its moderate risk appetite and its focus on building close relationships with its customers this has enabled it to create bespoke financial solutions to meet the needs of individual clients and markets — most recently with a suite of new products to assist with cash-flow issues of customers in Nigeria. The bank first attracted the attention of the CFI.co judging panel for its expert knowledge of the market in Sub-Saharan Africa and its seamless facilitation of international trade. Since its first CFI.co award win in 2016, The Access Bank UK has experienced strong and sustainable growth across-the-board: pre-tax profits for 2018 are up 62%, returns on investments are paying out ahead of schedule, and there is access to a broader range of countries and markets including Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The bank has accomplished this by following a model of clear and prompt communication between staff and customers. For the fourth consecutive year, the CFI.co judges are pleased to present The Access Bank UK with the 2019 award for Best Africa Trade Finance Bank.