GTBanks celebrates a decade of ‘successful’ operations

Guaranty Trust Bank Gambia Limited, the first bank in The Gambia that originated from Nigeria, marked its decade of operations in the country which “is highly rewarding both in terms of enriching knowledge of banking and also putting profit on the table which is the essence of every business.”

Mr Femi Omotoso, MD GTBank Gambia Ltd

The bank that started operations in the Gambia in March 2002, celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a line-up of activities which began with an ‘Official cutting of the cake’ held on Monday at the bank’s head office located along Kairaba Avenue.  The event brought together key stakeholders of the bank, representative of the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia, and a cross-section of the public.

GTBank started operations in the Gambia as the seventh bank in country in just five years’ time; the bank has metamorphosed to be the third largest bank in the country both in terms of balance sheet and profitability and has won several prestigious awards in the country. 

“This was achievable due to the warm embrace of its excellent service delivery culture and strong core values,” the managing director of GTBank, Mr Femi Omotoso, said on Monday. “This is all possible, thanks to our esteemed customers.” 

He said the focus of the anniversary is not to celebrate the bank’s 10 years of existence in the Gambia but to celebrate the unwavering trust, confidence, patronage and loyalty of its customers.

“Therefore, from very deep in our heart, we say ‘thank you, and congratulations’,” he said while acknowledging the support given to the bank by its customers over the years.

He noted that during the past 10 years, Gambians have shown great faith in GTBank as the bank has enjoyed unflinching trust and confidence from its customers.   

He reassures the general populace that GTBank will continue to be a “high quality financial services provider with the urge to be the best at all times, whilst adding value to all our stakeholders”.

GTBank (Gambia) Limited is a joint initiative and partnership between Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in Nigeria and a number of Gambian entrepreneurs and institutions, including Amadou Samba.

With 15 branches in less than ten years of operations, the 16^th branch to be launched in May, GTBank’s expansion programme has immensely helped in bringing quality banking services to the doorstep of Gambian people, MD Omotoso said.  The bank don’t only open branches, but also introduce innovative solutions to meet the needs of its customers, and continue to enhance its service delivery capabilities, with a view to becoming the Bank of 1^st Choice in this economy.

MD Omotoso said:  “For us in GTBank, we are well aware of the changing landscape in the Gambian banking industry.  Competition has increased to an unprecedented level and customers are getting more sophisticated by the day.  It is our belief that efficient customer service delivery capabilities would always be the key winning formula.”

“The Bank will continue to employ the best hands and motivate them to deliver superior performance; deploy and up-to-date and robust technology whilst we maintain a simple and well documented set of procedures and processes in ensuring flawless and efficient services delivery to our customers.”

According to Mr Omotoso, GTBank is recognized as a responsible corporate citizen, a pace-setter and industry leader.  He said a significant part of the bank’s annual earnings are committed towards supporting well-meaning and deserving initiatives across diverse areas of the economy such as healthcare, education, the environment, and youth and sports.

GTBank MD thanked the government of the Gambia for providing the enabling environment conducive for the smooth operations of the bank, like any other bank in the country.

GTBank, as part of its 10-year anniversary activities, refurbished the Brikama Major Health Centre, a project which cost the bank over D600,000.

The Governor of Central Bank of the Gambia, Amadou Colley, whose statement was read on his behalf by the 1^st Deputy Governor, Basirou Njie, said the GTBank’s decade of operations “not only endeared the bank to a large segment of the Gambian population, but is the very ingredient that has catapulted GTBank to a leading bank in The Gambia”.

He said the bank has and continues to be a Mecca of innovation, introducing a wide array of financial instruments over the years.

For her, the deputy permanent secretary of the ministry of finance and economic affairs, Mrs Ida Faal, GTBank has prospered for 10 years with great achievements.

She said the government of the Gambia acknowledges the bank’s efforts and applauds the GTBank for all its achievements.

The DPS confirmed that GTBank bank has been involved in the development of social sectors such as education and health. 

For his part Amadou Samba, chairman of the board of director of GTBank, the bank’s activities over the last 10 years are hinged on professionalism, excellent customer services, deep knowledge of customer’s business, locating branches in areas considered “convenient” for customers, maintain an up-to-date relevant technology, flexibility to provide customized solutions to customers and devote part of the bank’s profit to corporate social responsibility.

He explained that these have been cornerstones to the remarkable growth of the Gambia.

GTBank board chairman said the bank’s decade of operations witnessed introduction of innovative products and services geared towards making banking more convenience.  

Mr Samba described GTBank’s 10-year operations as “uninterrupted growth and unparalllel customer services delivery to highly esteemed customers”.