Asiamoney Best Bank Awards

CTBC Bank, Taiwan’s largest private sector bank, won this year’s awards for best domestic bank and for best corporate and investment bank, because of its resilience and innovation in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as for its global ambitions.

Unlike past global crises when banks were in the spotlight, the health crisis caused by Covid-19 showed a somewhat different side of banking – one where they stepped up to support their staff, customers and the community, and more broadly, the economy during the pandemic.

Covid-19 relief and response activities were the central theme in almost all of this year's awards pitches to Asiamoney. Every part of the global market has been touched by the pandemic, with governments, agencies and banks working double-time to keep the economy, markets and businesses functioning. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have naturally required more support, with Hang Seng Bank stepping up to the plate in Hong Kong.

Citi has operated in Hong Kong for more a century, so it has long been the go-to bank for some of the city’s biggest names. The bank's influence and strengths are apparent from its numerous relationships with Hong Kong's top players, as well as from its many retail banking clients who want the reach and capabilities of an international bank.

It may take some time for a large, state-owned bank to get its digital initiatives off the ground, but Bank of China Hong Kong proves that when it does, it can be a resounding success.

Citi has operated in Hong Kong for more a century, so it has long been the go-to bank for some of the city’s biggest names. The bank's influence and strengths are apparent from its numerous relationships with Hong Kong's top players, as well as from its many retail banking clients who want the reach and capabilities of an international bank.

Hong Kong SAR has faced a couple of rough years: protests brought parts of the city to a grinding halt for several months, then the Covid-19 pandemic hit the economy. So far, 2021 has not been easy as the city continues to fight the spread of the virus and tries to position itself for recovery when its borders and businesses are fully open again.

The 25th year of Asakabank’s existence did not go as planned. As Covid-19 slammed global growth, Uzbekistan’s second-largest bank found itself in crisis-management mode rather than busy making deals.