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Results index Many banks in Africa donate part of their profits to charitable organisations. But few go beyond these pecuniary donations to dedicate their time and financial skills in support of the social good. Ecobank is one of the exceptions. The pan-African bank sets aside 1% of its profits after tax to supporting the initiatives of its social projects arm, the Ecobank Foundation, it also supports the fight against pandemics in Africa using skills and talents unique to banking. For those reasons, it wins best bank for corporate social responsibility.

Results index Few institutions have true scope in sales and trading in all important asset classes in Africa. One bank that does is Standard Bank, winner of our inaugural best bank for markets award.

From Cyprus to Ireland, banks in Europe can boast some impressive turnaround stories. They now have the chance to help others and lead the wider transformation and consolidation that the sector so badly needs.

Results index There has been a pronounced trend for pan-regional banking franchises in central America and the Caribbean in recent years. Local and regional banks are using the exit of universal banks such as Citi and HSBC to consolidate. This competition for regional platforms is good news for the individual economies, many of which have in the past had a myopic focus on the US for developing business and trade. Deepening financial ties within the region offers pan-regional growth as another strategy.

Results index Reaching small and medium-sized enterprises and supporting them with advice and financing from inception through every stage of their development is a key part of banking in Africa. Due to its long commitment to Kenyan SMEs and to its innovative way of supporting them, Equity Bank is the worthy winner of our best bank for SMEs in Africa award. Over the past year, the bank managed to greatly expand its offering, both geographically and numerically.

BBVA's diversification drive across new retail markets and its mobile banking push reveal a global emerging market institution to be reckoned with

Results index Like digital innovation, demonstrating a commitment to corporate social responsibility is a relatively recent obligation in banking. So when social involvement has been at the heart of an institution’s identity for more than 100 years, it is hard to take a cynical stance and brand its efforts in the area as little more than a belated effort to manage its public image.

Results index Thanks to high levels of foreign ownership, banking sectors in CEE saw few sizeable failures during the financial crisis. Latvia’s Parex Banka was the exception. Locally owned and heavily dependent on wholesale funding, it suffered a run on deposits after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and had to be bailed out by the state. Large portfolios of bad debts were subsequently hived off into a bad bank and the relatively healthy rump was reborn as Citadele Banka in March 2010, which is the winner of this year’s best bank transformation award for CEE.

Only excellent bank management teams can satisfy shareholders, regulators and customers all at once today. BNP Paribas has one of the very best.

The country’s biggest banks are only just starting to feel the pain, and there could be far more to come.

The bank’s approach to SMEs is different and successful: it is international in scope and looks to help companies beyond just lending.

Results index This year’s winner of best bank in Africa is the first east African bank to be awarded that distinction, Kenya’s Equity Bank, led by James Mwangi. While present in relatively few markets compared with pan-African giants such as Ecobank, the institution has repeatedly demonstrated that it is a role model for how banking should be done on the continent.