Harare, Zimbabwe, 07 December 2023:

Ecobank Zimbabwe, part of the leading pan-African Ecobank Group, has won the prestigious ‘Global Award for Financial Inclusion 2023’ at The Banker magazine’s Financial Inclusion Awards 2023. The Banker is the world’s longest running international banking title. Moses Kurenjekwa, Ecobank Zimbabwe Managing Director & Cluster Head, SADC said: “We are delighted to win this global award for our innovative partnership with CARE Zimbabwe and UN Women by promoting financial inclusion among Zimbabwe’s rural women. Ecobank Zimbabwe provides them with financial and logistical support, combined with training, project monitoring and evaluation done by Care Zimbabwe and UN Women. We have created a financial ecosystem whereby producers, buyers and suppliers have been brought together, with all of them using our digital channels for their transactions.”

Mr. Kurenjekwa added: “Additionally, launched our Single Market Trade Hub to help our Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking customers take advantage of the available trade opportunities across the Ecobank network in Africa. This award exemplifies Ecobank's unwavering commitment to expanding access to financial services for all Zimbabweans, as well as our dedication to fostering economic empowerment and development within our region.”

The joint programme between Ecobank Zimbabwe, CARE Zimbabwe and UN Women provides financial inclusion and revolving loans to Zimbabwean women village associations engaged in grower’s schemes, grocery shops, horticulture and much more. The Ecobank Financial Inclusion for Improved Women’s Agency program has helped improve women’s capacity, namely their ability to define goals and act on them. This is crucial for advancing gender equality, equity, and the empowerment of women – key issues enshrined in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The judges of The Banker’s awards took account of numerous factors in their decision-making. They assessed banks globally – across both industrialised countries and developing economies – on how they address the challenge of including the poorest members of society in the financial system. They also took account of how the banks serving this segment perform a social function and their ability to potentially transform these customers into high-margin customers in the future. Ecobank Zimbabwe received its award at The Banker’s Financial Inclusion Awards Ceremony 2023, which was held on 30 November 2023 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Park Lane, London, UK. Ecobank SADC Cluster Head & MD Zimbabwe Mr. Moses Kurenjekwa and Head of Customer Experience, Tichaona Gandanhamo received the award on behalf of the bank.

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About Ecobank Zimbabwe

Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited was established on 27 April 2011. It is licensed and supervised by The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Ecobank Zimbabwe has its Head Office at Block A, Sam Levy’s Office Park, 2 Piers Road, P.O. Box BW1464, Borrowdale, Harare, and has 12 branches, 26 ATMs, . It serves numerous individuals, schools, churches, sole traders, SMEs, local, small and medium corporates, regional companies, NGOs, financial institutions, international organisations, multinationals, public sector entities, governments and government agencies through its Consumer, Commercial and Corporate banking divisions. The Bank is 100 per cent owned by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the pan-African financial conglomerate headquartered in Lomé, Togo, which operates in 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

For further information on Ecobank Zimbabwe please visit Ecobank Zimbabwe website www.ecobank. com/zw follow us on Twitter @EcobankZW, Facebook: ecobankzimbabwe and Instagram: ecobankzimbabwe.