Consolidating its position as Sri Lanka’s undisputed leader in retail banking, HNB PLC was once again crowned as the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 13th occasion at the Asian Banker Global Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2023.
Hosted by the prestigious Asian Banker Magazine, the awards are considered among the most rigorous and transparent programmes for consumer financial services in the world and is designed to showcase regional institutions that establish new benchmarks in stability, innovation, digital enablement and process re-engineering towards unleashing rapid, sustainable growth.
“True to our founding principles, HNB has always believed in building partnerships based on integrity and service to drive progress. For over 135 years, we have upheld this legacy with a strong sense of pride and responsibility, continuously transforming our capabilities to meet the changing needs of our customers.
“We are honoured to be recognized by the Asian Banker Magazine as the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 13th year, a testament to the dedicated efforts of our team and our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional banking experiences to our customers. Despite the unprecedented challenges facing our nation today, we remain steadfast in our pledge to serve as a true partner in progress, driving the growth and development of Sri Lanka’s financial landscape for generations to come,” HNB Managing Director/CEO Jonathan Alles said, commenting on the win.
Retail banking is a flagship segment for HNB, which caters to the needs of over 2.5 million Sri Lankans island-wide. In addition to the bank’s extensive customer service network of 255 branches and 787 self-service machines, HNB has also been a pioneer in leveraging digital banking products, services and channels to provide customers with convenient, comprehensive and secured options to transact remotely.
Over the past year, the bank has delivered another strong and stable performance despite the significant challenges. The volume of digital banking transactions grew by 105% over the year, with an 80% increase in customers onboarded during the year.
Moreover, HNB’s leadership in tech-enabled banking has resulted in a series of breakthrough platforms like HNB SOLO-a frictionless, one-stop shop for digital payments linked to bank accounts and credit and debit cards that have rapidly gained popularity. The bank consolidated its position through exclusive partnerships with tech giants to promote the quick adoption of digital payment solutions for merchants.
“At HNB, we are extremely proud to have been named Sri Lanka’s Best Retail Bank for the 13th year by the Asian Banker Magazine. This prestigious recognition is a testament to our ongoing commitment to excellence and our steadfast focus on delivering innovative banking solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. Throughout the past year, we have continued to invest in cutting-edge technologies and capabilities to provide customers with faster, more convenient, and more secure banking experiences. As we look towards the future, we remain dedicated to leveraging our strengths and unique capabilities to drive growth and prosperity across Sri Lanka,” HNB DGM – Retail and SME Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne said.
Notably, the bank consolidated its legacy of true leadership in sustainability, good governance and corporate excellence with a resounding victory at the prestigious Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 (CCC BCCSA).
Having being declared the overall winner, HNB further secured additional four accolades including Governance category winner, Sustainability Champion for the Finance sector, Second runner-up for Demonstrated Resilient Practices for COVID-19 category, and ranked among the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens, a position which HNB has achieved for 13 years.
Moreover, the bank was also crowned Sustainability Champion for The Finance Sector in recognition of its systemic national contributions in supporting Sri Lanka’s transition towards renewable energy, grassroots-led economic development, and the multi-pronged environmental and social campaigns by the HNB Sustainability Foundation.
Furthermore, HNB was ranked among the Top 1,000 Banks in the world for the sixth consecutive year by the acclaimed UK based ‘The Banker Magazine’ while being adjudged the ‘Best Service Bank’ and the ‘Market Leader’ in the Euromoney Trade Finance Survey 2023.