Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) wins Kuwait’s most innovative securities house award for being a pioneering force in the country’s capital markets.

During Euromoney’s review period, National Investments Company (NIC) stood out for its work in M&A and equity capital markets, winning Kuwait’s best securities house award.

SNB Capital offers a solid proposition across asset classes and products among investment banks in Saudi Arabia, making it the natural choice for this Euromoney award.

During Euromoney’s review period, EFG Hermes was a force to be reckoned with across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, running numerous high-profile transactions.

Standard Bank CIB played a pivotal role in several high-impact sustainable transactions across Africa in 2023, highlighting its commitment to innovation in green finance, infrastructure development and economic growth.

Emirates NBD Capital (EmCap) was one of the most active DCM banks in the MENA region during Euromoney’s awards period.

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) excelled in financial advisory, capital markets and strategic investments in the past year, making it a clear winner of this award.

CardinalStone Securities (CSSL) has consistently topped the Nigerian Exchange’s ranking of stockbrokers.

KFH Capital is Kuwait’s best securities house for fixed income, thanks to its involvement on swathes of prominent sukuk transactions in the past year.

Al Ahly Pharos is a leading provider of investment research in the Egyptian financial landscape, thanks to its extensive market coverage, in-depth sector analysis, prolific research output, rapid analytical capabilities and active investor engagement.

SICO has solidified its reputation as a market leader in Bahrain, notching milestones on several fronts.

SBM Capital Markets (SBM) takes the top award for Mauritius for its strong growth and its ability to innovate, which cemented its position in an increasingly competitive brokerage landscape in the country.

FAB takes the Euromoney award for best securities house in the UAE for its prowess across asset classes, and its commitment to environmental, social and governance deals.

QNB Financial Services (QNBFS) impressed on multiple fronts over the past year, making it Euromoney’s best securities house for Qatar in 2024.

CI Capital has been actively engaged in advising some of the most prominent businesses in Egypt and the Middle East, reflecting an expanding footprint in both local and international markets.

BK Capital’s involvement in some of the most critical deals during the review period cemented its leadership in the industry and makes it Euromoney’s best securities house in Rwanda for 2024.

Chapel Hill Denham is named Nigeria’s best securities house this year, thanks to its stellar performance across securities trading and investment banking.

Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU) turned in a strong performance over the review period. Net profit was USh421 billion ($110 million), up 18% from USh357 billion in 2022. Net loans increased to USh4 trillion, while deposits ended the year at USh6 trillion, both up 3% on 2022.

Standard Bank successfully implemented innovative digital products across all banking segments in 2023 while also making important philanthropic contributions in Malawi.

Ecobank Sierra Leone recorded double-digit growth in its commercial banking operations last year, with gross loans to business customers up by 45% to $11.8 million. Customer deposits were up by 3%, reaching $25.7 million.

Ecobank Guinea rolled out its Xpress Loan service in Guinea last year, which enables customers to obtain short-term micro credit loans using their mobile phones. The service was launched in partnership with Dubai fintech Optasia and pan-African telecommunications giant MTN.

For the second year in a row, Standard Bank walks away with the award for the best bank in Africa. And for good reason.

Led by its head of wealth and investment Jacques Els, Standard Bank Wealth & Investment is a private-banking powerhouse in Africa.

Citi stands head and shoulders above its rivals in this category. The products it generates are designed to help day-to-day business for all its clients, be they global corporates working in and across Africa, or African firms scaling up their regional and international presence.

Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) is again Euromoney’s best bank in Zambia. Profit before tax increased 44% year on year to KK1.74 billion ($65 million), including a 109% boost in the third quarter driven by income earned on government securities, trading and an uptick in net fees and commission.

The banking sector in DR Congo is undergoing transition. The central bank has proposed new ownership requirements for banks in the country, stipulating that they must have at least four unrelated shareholders. At the same time, large banks outside the country, such as Kenya’s KCB and Equity Bank, are eyeing the market as a potential growth opportunity – hardly surprising when less than a third of the DR Congolese population has a bank account.

Nedbank wins the best digital bank in Africa award for the second year in a row, courtesy of its push to reform and re-engineer its IT system, with the aim of cutting costs, attracting new business and favouring an approach that focuses on evolution rather than revolution.

For a global lender, Citi’s investment-banking presence in Africa is hard to compete with. The US firm has an onshore presence in 16 countries and covers 38 markets, with a dedicated team in Johannesburg supported by corporate bankers across the region.

Attijariwafa Bank remains the bank to beat in Morocco. In a year that saw profits grow 20% to Dh13.8 billion ($1.4 billion), it has focused its efforts on promoting private investment in the country.

A strong financial performance together with a series of new initiatives, including in environmental, social and governance, make Standard Bank Euromoney’s best bank in South Africa this year.