Sri Lanka’s largest private retail bank, HNB PLC, was crowned as Bronze winners in the Service Brand of the Year at the recently concluded 22nd Edition of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) Brand Excellence Awards 2023.
Considered the pinnacle of achievement for brands and marketers, HNB emerged as bronze winners following a highly competitive evaluation against other brands from across the services sector including banking, insurance, telecommunication, entertainment, education, leisure, investment, real estate, travel, transport and logistics.
“HNB is a brand that has stood out as a steadfast partner in progress to Sri Lankans from all walks of life for generations. As a result, we have grown to serve as a heritage brand for the nation. Therefore, the updates that we made to our brand over the past year had to be strategic, and carefully aligned to the ambitious transformation that is taking place at HNB, to gear up the bank to face the future with confidence. We are truly honored to be declared Bronze winners in the Service Category from SLIM, which serves as a vibrant testament to our continuing brand evolution.” HNB DGM Retail Banking Group, Sanjay Wijemanne said.
The SLIM Brand Excellence Awards serve as a platform for constructive rivalry among Sri Lankan marketers. This competition reflects SLIM’s genuine endeavor to elevate marketing as a pivotal economic force, aiding organizations in formulating and implementing potent strategies that triumph in the marketplace and, ultimately, capture the affection of consumers.
“Over the past year, our team embarked on an ambitious journey to revitalize HNB’s identity, introducing a more colorful and dynamic design aesthetic logo that reflects the joy and vibrancy of banking with us. This transformation extends beyond a visual refresh, infusing every touchpoint with the same spirit—from our mobile apps to the welcoming environment of our branches.
“Our goal was to align our brand with our increasingly sophisticated service delivery, product innovation and community engagement to drive a elevated experiences for all who engage with the HNB brand. By embedding the essence of joy in our brand ethos, we’ve strengthened our bond with our customers and reinforced our position as a bank that’s not only a joy to bank with but also a partner in their financial journey. It is this connection that fosters loyalty and trust, key indicators of our brand’s health and success in a competitive marketplace,” HNB Head of Marketing, Upul Adikari said.
Notably, this year’s awards received a record breaking number of submissions with a grand total of 175 entries, making it one of the most hotly contested editions of the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards on record.
With 254 customer centres and 800+ Self Service Devices (SSMs) nationwide, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative private banks. Consolidating its legacy in sustainability, good governance and corporate excellence, HNB was crowned the Best Corporate Citizen for 2022 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Awards. The bank further secured four additional accolades, including being ranked among the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens and taking home the Governance category and Sustainability Champion for the Finance sector titles.
Additionally, HNB was ranked among the World’s Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for the sixth consecutive year in 2022, in addition to being crowned the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 13th occasion at the prestigious International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2023 hosted by the Asian Banker Magazine.