Ghana’s GCB Bank PLC has been adjudged the Best Regional Bank in West Africa at the 20th edition of the African Banker Awards held on Wednesday at the Kempinski Hotel in Brazzaville, Congo, on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings. 

The awards honoured outstanding banks and bankers from across the continent and reflected a resilient and maturing African financial sector contributing significantly to economic development. 

Other winners in the regional banking categories were Bank of Africa – Morocco for North Africa, Zanaco for Southern Africa, CRDB for East Africa, and Trust Merchant Bank for Central Africa. 

The 2026 African Banker Awards were organised by African Banker magazine and IC Events under the high patronage of the African Development Bank. 

The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, representing President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and leading banking dignitaries, including AfDB President Dr Sidi Ould Tah. 

Eighteen winners were announced during the event, which featured a performance by Congolese music legend Koffi Olomide. 

Mr Omar Ben Yedder, Chair of the Awards Committee, stressed the importance of financial sovereignty and strong banking institutions for Africa’s development. 

“Nothing significant will move on this continent without strong banks and strong financial institutions at the centre,” he said. 

“The coming decades will be defined by how courageous our business leaders are and by how willing our banks are to walk with them into new sectors, new markets and new models of collaboration.” 

The awards highlighted the growing role of African financial institutions in structuring transformational deals, particularly in infrastructure and industrialisation. 

Among the notable winners were the Red Rocket Holdco renewable energy deal in South Africa, which won the Infrastructure Deal of the Year, and the NBET Finance Company PLC ?501.02 billion (US$346.7 million) bond issuance in Nigeria’s power sector, which won Debt Deal of the Year. 

The Arise IIP Exit/Equity Raise by the African Finance Corporation also received recognition for supporting industrialisation across the continent. 

Ecobank was named Bank of the Year, reflecting its return to growth, profitability, and dividend payments after several years. 

Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, was named Minister of Finance of the Year in recognition of the country’s economic turnaround. 

The Governor of the Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo, André Wameso, received the Central Bank Governor of the Year award for supporting the growth of the banking sector and creating conditions for the country’s recent eurobond issuance. 

Two banks from the Democratic Republic of Congo also received honours. Trust Merchant Bank won Best Regional Bank in Central Africa, while Rawbank received the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Bank of the Year Award. 

The AFAWA award, now in its fourth year, recognises African financial institutions advancing access to finance for women-led businesses. 

Mr Serge Ekué, President of the Banque Ouest-Africaine de Développement (BOAD), won the prestigious African Banker of the Year award. 

The event was supported by several institutions, including the African Guarantee Fund as platinum sponsor, the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) as cocktail sponsor, and Afreximbank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) as gold sponsors. GTBank served as associate partner, while Algest Investment Bank was the main partner for the awards. 

Full list of winners: 

Banker of the Year: Serge Ekué, President, BOAD 

Bank of the Year: Ecobank 

Sustainable Bank of the Year: Bank of Industry 

Fintech of the Year: Ziidi Trader, Nairobi Stock Exchange 

             DFI of the Year: Afreximbank 

SME Bank of the Year: Co-operative Bank of Kenya 

Deal of the Year – Infrastructure: Red Rocket Holdco – Absa & Rand Merchant Bank 

             Deal of the Year – Debt: NBET Finance Company PLC ?501.02 billion bond issuance –     

             Cardinal Stone Partners 

             Deal of the Year – Equity: Arise IIP Exit/Equity Raise – African Finance Corporation 

             Lifetime Achievement Award: Henri-Claude Oyima, Chairman, BGFIBank Group 

Central Bank Governor of the Year: André Wameso, Democratic Republic of Congo 

Minister of Finance of the Year: Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambia 

Regional Bank – North Africa: Bank of Africa – Morocco 

Regional Bank – Southern Africa: Zanaco 

             Regional Bank – West Africa: GCB Bank PLC 

Regional Bank – East Africa: CRDB 

Regional Bank – Central Africa: Trust Merchant Bank 

AFAWA Bank of the Year Award: Rawbank 

GNA 

Edited by: Audrey Dekalu