At the recent Africa Bank Awards 2015 in Abidjan, the Bank of Kigali (BK) was adjudged the best regional bank in East Africa after votes were cast. Over the course of its near 5 decade history, the bank has provided commercial banking services to individuals, small businesses and large corporations.

BK was recognized for its role in reaching out to new customers, offering new services, adopting inclusiveness by bringing the unbanked into the banking fold and leveraging new technologies to make for a stronger financial sector.

In 2010, the bank ranked among the top fifteen commercial banks in East Africa and among the top hundred in Africa. Since then, it has strategically expanded its offerings and geographic base to serve its customers in a competitive fashion.

This year’s awards, the most prestigious in Africa’s banking and finance sector, held on the sidelines of the recently concluded annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

In a statement from the bank, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, James Gatera, acknowledged the recognition as a great honor to the entire workforce and attributed it to their commitment to exceed their customers’ expectations.

“We are honoured and excited to receive the award for Best Bank in East Africa; our commitment to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations through innovative products and services has been recognized and I sincerely appreciate our customers and shareholders for their loyalty,” he said.

In a related development, Claver Gatete, the Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning received the Finance Minister of the year award and Albert Essien, Ecobank Group CEO, won the African Banker of the Year award.