Fidelity Bank Plc continues to solidify its leadership in the realm of exports, as it was crowned the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the prestigious BusinessDay and Other Financial Institutions’ (BAFI) Awards 2023.
The award was bestowed upon the bank during an exclusive gala event hosted on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“The BAFI Awards serves as the definitive standard for recognition within the Nigerian financial services sector. Now in its 10th year, these awards acknowledge and celebrate organizations that excel in the delivery of financial services in Nigeria,” stated BusinessDay Media Limited, the award organizers.
In response to this accolade, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are thankful for this recognition and dedicate the award to our customers who rely on us for effective support in the global non-oil exports market. As a bank, we remain unwavering in our commitment to helping individuals thrive, inspiring businesses to succeed, and empowering economies to flourish.”
Notably, Fidelity Bank recently hosted the second edition of its non-oil exports expo, known as the Fidelity International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC), in Houston, Texas, United States of America. During this two-day event, the bank secured a groundbreaking cocoa pre-export deal worth $40 million with AFREXIM Bank and JohnVents Industries, an achievement lauded by analysts in the exports sector.
FITCC Houston featured exhibitions by over 160 Nigerian and US-based businesses, alongside panel sessions where stakeholders deliberated on strategies to bolster the pipeline of Nigerian businesses exporting to the US market. In recognition of the bank’s commitment to fostering bilateral trade and economic development between Nigeria and the USA through the FITCC initiative, the Mayor of the City of Houston, Sylvester Turner, declared October 25, 2023, as FITCC Day in Houston, Texas.
As one of Nigeria’s top banks, Fidelity Bank serves more than 8 million customers through its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as via digital banking channels. The bank has received numerous local and international awards, including Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 from the Global Banking and Finance Awards, Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria from the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023, and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria from the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.