In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, ADCB needed to implement a change in strategy. The crisis had hit the bank hard so rebalancing its banking business was crucial, and transaction banking was seen as an important element in being able to achieve long-term sustainable growth.
In 2009, and as part of that change, the bank consolidated its previously separate cash management and trade businesses under a new transaction banking group and appointed Murali Subramanian, formerly Citi’s head of global transaction services, Middle East and north Africa, to oversee it.
The business today accounts for 44% of ADCB’s wholesale banking revenues and 19% of group revenues. It is also winning it recognition among its corporate and financial institution clients too.
ADCB broke into the top 20 best global cash managers for non-financial corporates for the first time in 2012, dropped out in 2013, but this year has returned and has improved its ranking among financial institutions too. Moving up to 19 from 23 and 17 from 18 in 2014, respectively, is still some way from the top tier, but it’s a very credible achievement for a UAE-based bank.
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