NEWS
Standard Chartered Bank and
Ant Financial sign MOU
Ecobank wins
awards for
operations in
five countries
E
S
tandard Chartered Bank (SCB), a
leading international banking group
with a strong presence in Africa, and Ant
Financial Services, one of the world’s
leading digital financial services providers,
have announced the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Under its terms SCB will combine
its banking expertise and insights in
emerging markets such as Africa with
Ant Financial’s industry leading FinTech
capabilities, to increase access to financial
services for clients.
José Viñals, Chairman of Standard
Chartered, said: “It is our great pleasure
to deepen the strategic partnership with
Ant Financial. The MOU marks a new
era of the co-operation between the
most dynamic FinTech company and
10
INTELLIGENTCIO
the most active international bank in
emerging markets.
“Built on our joint commitment to
inclusive financial services, and with
the combination of cutting-edge
technology and banking expertise,
we aspire to explore and make due
contributions to broaden access to
inclusive financial services.”
Standard Chartered Bank has been
working together with Ant Financial
since 2012, in areas including funding
settlement, FX services and Alipay wallet
related solutions.
Eric Jing, Chief Executive Officer, Ant
Financial, said: “Ant Financial is dedicated
to using technology to make financial
services more inclusive on a global scale.”
cobank, a leading pan-African banking
group, has won ‘Bank of the Year’ awards
in five of its countries of operation. Ecobank
scored the five-trophy haul at The Banker
Awards, held in London with the honours
going to teams in Cameroon, Guinea
Conakry, Gambia, Togo and Uganda. Judges
said teams from the winning countries
had made significant progress over the
past 12 months; not only in terms of strong
financials but by implementing new products
and services which have transformed their
customer service offering.
Ade Ayeyemi, Ecobank Group CEO, said:
“Ecobank is truly honoured to receive
these awards. To remain relevant in
Africa’s banking world of tomorrow, there
is a pressing need for banks to disrupt
themselves and transform their operating
models. Ecobank is embracing these forces
for change as we seek to build the most
efficient digital banking platform in Africa.
“Over the past year we have worked hard
to strengthen our digital service delivery in
order to fulfil our promise to connect Africa
and reach out to the masses. Ecobank’s
geographical spread across 33 African
countries tells you just how committed we
are to the pan-African model. The awards
demonstrate that we are making progress
delivering the bank’s integrated African vision,
while continuing to innovate.”
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