The history of being 'the first' associated with GTBank in The Gambia's banking industry was repeated again on the morning of Saturday 7th February 2009 at the prestigious Kairaba Beach Hotel, in Senegambia. At the well-attended Annual Business Award Dinner of The Gambian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, an umbrella body of private sector institutions in The Gambia, GTBank Gambia was named 'The Bank of The Year in The Gambia' for the year 2008.
In light of the growing number of operators in The Gambia's banking industry, this is the first time in the history of GCCI annual awards, that the banks were grouped together to determine which bank is in fact the most outstanding. The selection of the bank of the year is based on the voting of the members of GCCI, as well as an analysis of the Key Business Performance Indicators (KBPIs) of each bank.
In what could be described as deserving, GTBank Gambia came out on top in both the members' voting and analysis of key performance indicators. The bank, which began operations in 2002, is today a proud banker to practically all the key corporate names in the manufacturing, tourism, service, energy and power, distributive trade sectors of The Gambian economy. It has rendered significant support to the growth of its customers while ensuring outstanding and consistently improving service delivery standards. In fact, before this maiden edition of The bank of the year, GTBank has been nominated twice as 'service provider of the year'.
While receiving the award at the well-organized GCCI ceremony, a well-delighted CEO and managing director of GTBank, Mr Lekan Sanusi, said, "this award is dedicated to three sets of people. The first are the founding fathers of GTBank group, Messrs. Fola Adeola and Tayo Aderinokun, the duo that championed an institution that is today a 'pride of Africa' for its outstanding achievements internationally. The second are the set of Gambian staff of the bank, who everyday, are preoccupied with finding answers on how to bring more convenient and quality banking services to the doorstep of our most valued customers". The third and the final group are the customers of the bank who have given the bank and its staff the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in service delivery.''
In its persistent drive to bring banking services to the doorstep of all Gambians, the bank opened two new branches in Kanifing and Latrikunda Sabiji in 2008. In addition, early this year, one more branch was opened at Brusubi, which brought the total branch network to nine.
In 2008, GTBank launched four additional products in the market which include Guaranty Trust International Money Transfer Service (GTMT), GT Orange savings Account (No minimum opening balance, no operating balance), Employee New Generation Savings Scheme (designed to encourage savings culture for employees in corporate institutions), Point Of Sales Terminal (POS) available at Harry's Supermarket, Kairaba Shopping Center, Butchers Restaurant, Sultan Sweets Restaurants, Stop Step Pharmacy & Stores and Timbooktoo Bookstore. On 22nd January 2009, GTBank made history as the first financial institution in The Gambia to obtain the approval of the Visa International in South Africa to be licensed as a 'Principal' member of the exclusive club of Visa banks and agents.
