Azerbaijan, Baku, April 1 / Trend /
Global Finance magazine once again has awarded AccessBank as the "Best Bank in Azerbaijan" in its 2013 Awards for "Best Emerging Market Banks in Asia", the bank's press release says on Monday.
The Global Finance editors with input from industry analysts, corporate executives and banking consultants - selected the best emerging market bank in 22 countries. Criteria for choosing the winners included growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing, and innovative products.
Michael Hoffmann, CEO of AccessBank welcoming the announcement commented: "We take pride in having once again been awarded by such a reputable institution as Global Finance and consider it as strong acknowledgement of the Bank's achievement in offering high level products and services for our clients.
Global Finance Magazine reports on the international finance sector, covering such topics as corporate finance, joint ventures, country profiles etc. The magazine also holds several awards ceremonies throughout the year to recognize the winning financial institutions and companies. The largest of these ceremonies is held contemporary to the IMF and World Bank annual meetings.
AccessBank's mission is to provide access to financial services for Azerbaijan's low and middle-income households and micro and small businesses. The International Fitch Rating Agency has recognised AccessBank as the most reliable non-state owned bank in Azerbaijan (BB+). AccessBank is 100% foreign owned by six shareholders, consisting of: the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, KfW Development Bank - the Development Bank of the German Government (20% each), Access Microfinance Holding - a strategic investor in microfinance (16.5%), and LFS Financial Systems - a German consulting company (3.5%).