Rothschild & Cie Gestion continues to build on its existing success. Masters of not changing for changes sake Rothschild & Cie Gestion continues to build upon its foundations through measured continual improvement.Rothschild & Cie Gestion continues to build on its existing success. Masters of not changing for changes sake Rothschild & Cie Gestion continues to build upon its foundations through measured continual improvement.

Finely attuned to the demands of ever-changing times, Rothschild & Cie Gestion already in 2011 signed on to the United Nations-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (UNPRI) – a codified set of six guidelines that help investors incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns – and other non-financial parameters – into their decision-making processes.

Serving institutional investors, fund distributors, and financial intermediaries around the world with asset management services and advice from offices in Paris, London, Zurich, and New York, Rothschild & Cie Gestion is widely recognised – and praised – for its conviction-based approach to the preservation and growth of capital. Thus, value is created through the strategic allocation of assets.

The firm is particularly well-equipped to consistently extract above-market returns from stocks that perform well regardless of market sentiment while maintaining an optimised risk profile. Rothschild & Cie Gestion concentrates its efforts primarily on European equities – a segment that allows the firm to leverage its considerable expertise to maximise benefits for investors.

Rothschild & Cie Gestion also offers an exceptionally comprehensive universe of open architecture investment solutions that cross asset classes and are tailored to meet the exact requirements of clients. Based in London, the firm’s Risk Based Investment Solutions Ltd provides investors an innovative way to maximise risk diversification and avoid excessive turnover and portfolio concentration.

The CFI.co judging panel agrees that Rothschild & Cie Gestion has found a way to stay true to its heritage while remaining at the leading edge of innovation in asset management – effectively combining the best of both worlds to produce a palette of investment solutions that unswervingly delivers optimised results. Following their success in 2016 the judges declare Rothschild & Cie Gestion the winner of the 2017 Best Institutional Asset Manager Europe Award.

With a reach extending far beyond its home turf, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) has established a formidable reputation for offering superior access into the EUR fixed income markets.

LBBW being itself a regular issuer, its DCM set-up today serves FIG, SSA and corporate issuers alike. Based on broad distribution capabilities and an in-depth understanding of investor needs, trademark issuers like EIB, KfW, Rabobank, Nordea Bank, and Daimler have repeatedly entrusted LBBW with their benchmark business. The bank remains equally dedicated to developing the market further.

Numerous first-time issuers have relied on LBBW for their successful market entry or product innovations like sustainable bonds. And its leading corporate SSD business provides the essential link between LBBW’s corporate client base and Germany’s largest investor base.

More than anything else, LBBW has been recognised for providing reliable advice and distribution in often challenging market conditions. This has allowed the bank to steadily grow its market share and become a partner of choice for quality credits.

The CFI.co judging panel recognises the debt capital market expertise available at LBBW which represents real value to issuers. The judges are pleased to offer LBBW the 2017 Best Debt Capital Markets Team Germany Award.

XM, the official trading partner of the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt has worked its way up to the Fintech premier league with over one million clients registered to date (in no less than 196 countries executing some 150 million trades annually). Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Cyprus, XM has gained an enviable reputation for the faultless execution of trades and has invested heavily in a superb team that delivers a truly client-centric operations model.

The firm offers its clients 24/7 support and guidance in thirty languages. A team of around 300 dedicated and experienced professionals ensures that the broker stays ahead of the curve by adapting the latest trading tools and instruments. It is this technologically advanced trading that ensures a competitive advantage for the company.

XM is devoted to ensuring optimum trading conditions that comply with its strict ethics code. The firm does not distinguish between clients based on the size of their portfolio and consistently delivers a level playing field. Up to 99.35% of all trades are executed in under a second. XM recognises that in forex trading, speed is of the essence.

The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to note that XM offers traders not only world class services, but also guidance and protection such as a negative balance protection and access to the Investor Compensation Fund. The judges are pleased to name XM winner of the 2017 Best Trading Support Europe Award.

Small is beautiful. When it comes to renewable energy – and contributing towards the fight against climate change – it pays not to overlook the smaller projects that often carry the biggest impact. In order to meet the goals set out during the COP 21 summit, significant funds need to be mobilised for, and directed towards, renewable energy.

Based in Germany, Kaiserwetter Energy Asset Management leverages the Internet-of-Things to offer investors and operators unparalleled insight into the performance of their wind and solar power plants. The company generates, compiles, and disseminates vast amounts of data to produce a transparent picture that can underpin the streamlined and adaptable organisational structures required for optimum efficiency.

Kaiserwetter’s fourth dimensional approach to asset management also serves to mitigate risk which allows investors to broach markets not otherwise considered. Built around big data analytics, Kaiserwetter applies its formula to 28 wind parks and 23 solar power facilities – with a combined 470MW output – in Germany, Poland, France, and Spain. The company is currently expanding into North America and wants to establish a presence in South America and Asia as well.

The CFI.co judging panel is convinced that cloud-based big data is key to the development of the comprehensive management techniques that investors require to underwrite the global push towards a renewable energy future. The judges are happy to recognise the achievements of Kaiserwetter Energy Asset Management with the 2017 Best Renewable Energy Asset Managers Germany Award.

National Bank of Greece (NBG) is a global financial services provider established back in 1841, with a 176-years history. NBG leads one of the largest Greek financial groups, with international presence including activities in Southeastern Europe and elsewhere. With a branch network covering entire Greece and subsidiaries in Greece and abroad, NBG has a global presence and offers a broad range of financial products and services.

NBG is justifiably proud of its corporate governance record. Attaching great importance to transparency of both its operations and plans, NBG has established an approach that ensures enduring success. Throughout the years, NBG has consistently rose to challenges and proved the inestimable value of solid corporate governance.

NBG Group has sound and efficient corporate governance arrangements incorporating international best practices, and centered around ensuring transparency, probity and focus on sustainable success over the longer term. A set of rules and procedures are followed, like the Corporate Governance Code and a number of Charters and Policies, incorporating Directive 2013/36/EU (CRD IV) and principles and best practices the Group applies, like Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Corporate governance principles for banks and the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance.

NBG corporate governance arrangements are mirrored, inter alia, in the pioneering process the Bank followed during 2016 by publicly advertising positions both in Greece and abroad seeking candidates at the level of its Board of Directors thus enforcing an open and transparent recruitment process. Further indicative actions in applying best practices include annual evaluations of the Board of Directors and its Committees including collective performance and evaluation of performance of individual Board members and their contribution to the efficient operation of the BoD.

Further, NBG has been traditionally oriented towards contributing to society and the economy and accordingly it has taken a number of initiatives, while it has in place certain measures enhancing its Socially Responsible role and its contribution. In this context, NBG, among others, participates in a number of Associations, Unions, Organizations and Indices, it supports initiatives towards sustainable development, offers products and services targeted to the protection of the environment, proceeds in donations, while it has received a number of awards for its Corporate Social Responsibility depicting a wider acknowledgement of the Bank’s initiatives in this respect.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed NBG for a number of years. The judges agree that National Bank of Greece again merits recognition for its dedication to excellence in governance. NBG is hereby declared winner of the 2017 Best Corporate Governance Greece Award.

If it flies, IBA handles it. The British firm supports the aviation market by advising on strategic investments, management of assets, aircraft appraisals, risk and freighter conversions. IBA possesses a vast proprietary fleet and valuable databases – IBA.iQ – allowing it to benchmark any deal, strategic investment, or policy against current and historic data.

Headquartered in the UK, IBA has been hired by the world’s leading banks, lessors, investors, airlines, and aircraft and engine manufacturers to help improve efficiency, and support strategic decisions.

The company has established a solid reputation and earned the trust of the industry’s major players thanks to its seasoned team of aviation professionals. As an independent full-service consultancy, IBA is able to offer its clients the combined benefits of sector expertise, a unique data platform, and hands-on management of aircraft. IBA advises the leasing community on all matters relating to aviation and currently has over one hundred aircraft under service management contract.

By allowing customers direct access to its vast pool of industry data and technical expertise, IBA is able to consistently deliver intelligence that adds value and promotes the sustainability of operations across the industry.

The CFI.co judging panel agrees that with Boeing and Airbus predicting a global skyline navigated by some ten thousand airlines, the need for independent data-based consultancy services is set to increase significantly. IBA is well poised to benefit from this surge in demand. The judges are pleased to offer IBA the 2017 Best Aviation Advisory Firm United Kingdom Award.

Austria’s leading investment bank is pushing into the buoyant markets of Central and Eastern Europe, deploying its expertise to offer clients a full, yet decluttered and integrated, range of premier products and services that add real value in the form of innovation and convenience.

Raiffeisen Centrobank, in business since 1973, introduced its first structured products in CEE about a decade ago and has pioneered a simple yet effective approach to marketing centred on full transparency, solid technology, and robust security. The bank’s different investment options and instruments are explained in great detail in order that retail clients at all times understand what it is they are buying.

Raiffeisen Centrobank has established close relationships with seven international exchanges to offer clients seamless access to the world’s major markets. The bank offers a large number of certificates that allow investors to easily tap into exceptional investment opportunities. The majority of RCB’s structured products offers clear-cut built-in guaranties that shield investors from downsides in the form of partial capital protection. Via these products investors may participate in specific sectors not normally open to retail clients.

The CFI.co judging panel notes that Raiffeisen Centrobank has gained wide recognition for its excellences in delivering servicing and addressing queries from clients. The bank also maintains a well-respected research department staffed by experienced analysists who regularly publish updates of their findings. The judges are pleased to offer Raiffeisen Centrobank the 2017 Best Structured Products Bank Central and Eastern Europe Award.

A people business first and foremost, First Names Group is a leading independent provider of trust, real estate, fund, and corporate services. Headquartered in Jersey, the Group operates across 14 strategic locations providing tailored solutions to international clients, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, entrepreneurs, institutional investors and multinational corporations.

With a corporate DNA uniquely centred on the core competencies of its people, First Names Group has developed a comprehensive offering that dovetails with client needs and is easily adaptable to fit specific requirements and the ever changing regulatory and legislative landscape.

The Group’s firm commitment to its clients’ continued success achieved through a high touch, director led, people focused approach to service delivery is a clear differentiator in the market.  It is also a key driver of business growth, particularly when combined with the Group’s investment in its people.  The recruitment programme and range of professional and personal development initiatives available across the Group ensure that there is strength and depth among its teams. These expert, experienced professionals are adept at structuring highly complex deals and transactions covering multiple jurisdictions while maintaining long term relationships with clients and their advisers.

The CFI.co judging panel was impressed by the Group’s commitment to ensuring the ongoing technical competence of its people and its ability to deliver a seamless multijurisdictional offering to its clients – both essential elements for the success of any cross-border venture or undertaking. The judges accordingly declared First Names Group the winner of the 2017 Best Cross-Border Fiduciary Services Team Channel Islands Award.

EFG Asset Management takes a hands-on approach to private banking with a can-do mentality that mirrors its corporate philosophy and fits neatly with today’s highly dynamic markets. At EFG, an entrepreneurial spirit coupled to refreshing pragmatism translate into a unique experience for investors. The firm caters to private investors, asset and wealth managers, financial advisers, and institutional investors with tailored and time-honoured yet adaptable formulas that consistently ensure optimum performance.

The EFG Group of companies is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and maintains a large presence in London in addition to a network of branches and private banks spanning three continents and reaching all of the world’s major financial markets.

Founded in 1995 by two veteran private bankers, EFG has grown from a promising start-up to a worldwide banking group. The company is listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since 2005 and last year acquired BSI, the oldest bank in Switzerland.

EFG Asset Management, a division of EFG Private Bank in London, serves the investment needs of the entire group and boasts a global team of experienced professionals around the globe. The division has approximately $20bn in assets under management on behalf of clients. EFG Asset Management is recognised for fostering a corporate culture of independent thinking within a highly disciplined framework.

The CFI.co judging panel appreciates the value of EFG Asset Management’s proactive straightforward approach. The judges are pleased to offer EFG Asset management the 2017 Best Fixed Income Fund Manager United Kingdom Award.

Joining to the United Nations Global Compact in 2005, Europcar Group has gained wide recognition for its adherence to sustainable business principles. The group fully complies with the communication and monitoring requirements laid down by the Global Compact.

Europcar Group has implemented a comprehensive ecological approach through a global CSR programme based on four strong commitments: promoting mobility for all, being a responsible employer, fighting against climate change, and create shared value.

Conscious of its environmental footprint, the group wishes to be an actor in the environmental preservation and the fight against climate change with a focus on environmental management and air emissions. To this end, a low carbon strategy has been defined in collaboration with Carbone 4, a French consultancy. Three main implementation areas have been defined: reduce the GHG emissions, develop new and more efficient mobility offerings, and promote innovation and share best environmental practices.

Europcar Group, founded and headquartered in France, maintains a global footprint with operations in over 130 countries and territories. In 2014, the company acquired start-up Ubeeqo to gain a presence in the corporate car-sharing market.

The CFI.co judges note that Europcar has made considerable progress in reducing the environmental impact of its operations. Franchisees are expected to follow its example. Solid monitoring processes have been put in place to ensure compliance. Additionally, corporate environmental standards are regularly updated. The judges are pleased to offer Europcar the 2017 Best Auto-Mobility Services Operator Europe Award.

Delivering solid returns responsibly. Nordea Asset Management strives – and succeeds – to optimise financial returns with responsibility. Nordea Asset Management continues to integrate ESG analysis into the investment processes and also continue to develop and run specialized ESG products. The firm, part Nordea Bank, covers all asset classes in regions. The firm offers clients responsible solutions and strive to add value to their clients by actively considering environmental, social and governance issues.

The firm enjoys a well-established reputation as a pioneer of responsible investing, carefully considering all environmental, social, and governance aspects in investments. The firm has committed resources and established policies and processes to ensure that companies that they invest in meet various environmental, social and governance criteria.

Thie multi boutique strategy enables Nordea Asset Management to propose a wide array of solutions under any and all market conditions. As such, the firm is one of only a select few that manages to leverage the strength of a boutique investment approach whilst enjoying the scalability and stability of a large financial institution.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed the trajectory of Nordea Asset management for a number of years. The judges are pleased to note that the unique approach of the firm continues to yield excellent results. Nordea is declared winner of the 2017 Best ESG Investment Process Europe Award.

It would seem that the entire world is being “appified” – any human endeavour, curiosity, and chore may be distilled into an app. This is not an unwelcome development: apps add convenience to life and help users save both time and money. Already some years ago, electricity companies and other utilities discovered the power of the app universe. However, none have produced an app as comprehensive as the one produced by Eesti Energia – the main energy company of Estonia which, incidentally, boasts the world’s most advanced e-government.

No surprise then that an Estonian company should put out the power app against which all others are measured. Running on both Android and iOS smart devices, Eesti Energia’s app presents customers with a number of ways to save on their energy bill, switch power plans, contact customer service, and check their consumption by the hour, day, or month, amongst others. All Eesti Energia customers have been provided with smart meters that allow for remote reading. With the app upgrade shortly being introduced B2B customers can also monitor their consumption.

The app detects unusual electricity usage patterns which can be caused by faulty wiring or defective appliances and immediately alerts the customer. The app also continuously monitors the energy market and notifies users of tomorrow’s expected electricity prices and the best hours to plug in heavy duty domestic appliances.

Eesti Energia is the country’s main power generator and distributor. The company is also the world’s largest shale oil producer. With operations in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Jordan, and the United States.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Eesti Energia for pushing the IT envelope and offering customers unparalleled ease of access to its services. The judges are pleased to offer Eesti Energia the 2017 Best Energy-Saving App Baltics Award.

Displaying both resilience and determination, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral – one of Portugal’s oldest banks – has survived and indeed prospered throughout the ages thanks to its ability to quickly adapt and meet shifting market conditions with aplomb and a keen eye for opportunity.

Founded in 1840 and headquartered in Lisbon, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral traces its corporate origins to a mutual savings entity. Today, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral stands at the apex of a business group that also includes insurance, fund and asset management, and property management companies.

In January, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral’s management revealed a much higher than expected capital ratio, beating market expectations with the bank’s Tier 1 ratio significantly exceeding the tighter requirements that only come into force later this year. The achievement allowsCaixa Económica Montepio Geral to consolidate and expand its activities. The bank continues to play a major role, as it has done for many decades, in the development of Portugal’s business environment, placing particular emphasis on supporting young entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Deeply rooted in the country’s corporate establishment, Caixa Económica Montepio Geral is able to close the generational divide between young and established entrepreneurs, coupling ambition and drive with experience and knowledge for superior results that help underpin the country’s economy.

The CFI.co judging panel congratulates Caixa Económica Montepio Geral on its hands-on approach to business development. The judges agree that the bank is peerless when it comes to navigating the buoyant Portuguese economy. The judges declare Caixa Económica Montepio Geral winner of the 2017 Best Heritage Bank Portugal Award.

Audi is going electric – and doing so in style. The German car manufacturer is a latecomer to the scene but for a reason: it refuses to build and sell a vehicle that is powered more by wishful thinking than robust engineering. Also, Audi declines to compromise on quality, durability, and performance. Recognising that the electric vehicle industry is still in its infancy and struggling with a number of growing pains, the company has preferred to concentrate its efforts on research and development, allowing its gifted engineers ample time to produce a car that meets and exceeds Audi’s high standards.

The extended lead time is set to pay off in 2020 when Audi will release its first lineup of electric-powered vehicles. True to style, the rollout will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary in nature with 48-volt hybrids leading the charge. A series of E-Tron cars, with a fully electric powertrain is set to follow two years later, including a sports car developed jointly with Porsche. The E-Tron GT is to be based on Porsche’s Mission E design – a four-door sports sedan packing a serious punch with over 600 horsepower and a range of over 500km.

With car manufacturers scrambling to claim a share of an expanding market, electric vehicles are being sold that simply lack the technology to impress. Acceleration may be top notch, but range, drive, and convenience are often found lacking. Thus, it is both refreshing and encouraging to find a manufacturer not eager to hop on the bandwagon but willing to help the technology mature first and build an electric car second.

The CFI.co judging panels finds this slightly contrarian approach commendable for drivers who know that once Audi puts out an electric car, it will be the one to buy. The judges are pleased to offer Audi the 2017 Most Promising Electric Vehicle Manufacturer Global Award.

A people business first and foremost, Heathrow Airport Holdings keeps more than 75 million travellers on the move annually through Europe’s largest aviation hub. The airport, a favourite of the public since before the dawn of the jet age, has managed to maintain its leading position by focusing on the continuous improvement of passenger experience.

Over the past few years, Heathrow Airport Holdings has invested well over $13bn in the facility. Amongst others, restaurant and shopping concourses were expanded and luggage handling systems upgraded. The airport’s new Terminal 2, opened in 2014 and replacing the original one of 1955, welcomed Star Alliance operators and other carriers, and the airport is now set for further expansion to accommodate the expected increase in the number of travellers as the facility prepares for a third runway.

The airport’s connectivity is also set to improve significantly when the Elizabeth Line – the central portion of the Crossrail Project – becomes operational late next year, directly linking Heathrow and Canary Wharf for the first time with journeys of less than 40 minutes.

As a people-focussed company, Heathrow understands that in order to keep its mega-hub position in Europe, attention to detail is crucial. The airport is determined to be the best in a highly competitive business. The company invests considerable resources in its around 6,500-strong staff, offering numerous skills development opportunities and clear career paths.

The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to declare Heathrow Airport Holdings winner of the 2017 Best Aviation Hub Governance Global Award.

Private and institutional investors looking to tap into Europe’s buoyant property market are increasingly turning to Germany’s WestInvest for solutions that offer both solid returns and moderate risk. Founded in 1989 and part of the Deka Group since 2004, WestInvest maintains a number of funds shaped to meet the requirements of different investor classes. A number of specialty real estate funds serve the needs of institutional investors who look for solid and consistent long-term returns.

WestInvest is known for its pursuit of high quality commercial property that produces a stable and predictable cashflow. The firm is part of the Deka Group’s real estate business division (and is, hence, doing business as “Deka Immobilien”) which in turn is well on track to meet its stated objective of becoming one of Europe’s Top-5 real estate fund managers. The business division is also a pioneer in the implementation of comprehensive and rigorous risk mitigation strategies and strict and transparent corporate governance policies that aim to bolster investor confidence and ensure client funds are invested according to well-established protocols and parameters.

Over the past few years, both WestInvest and the overall real estate business division have registered significant growth attesting to the firm’s success in the allocation of its clients’ resources. In February, WestInvest and and its sister company Deka Immobilien Investment forked out £435m for the London headquarters of Facebook on Rathbone Square. The firm is also eying other opportunities in London.

The CFI.co judging panel is pleased to note that WestInvest has successfully increased its exposure to the upside of the European real estate market. The judges declare WestInvest winner of the 2017 Best Real Estate Fund Manager Germany Award.

Recently repositioned as an international financial services provider, San Marino’s Banca Agricola Commerciale (BAC) now allows individual and corporate clients from outside the mountaintop republic to benefit from the expertise accumulated during almost a century of banking. Founded in 1920, Banca Agricola Commerciale has long been recognised as San Marino’s bank of reference for its adherence to standards of governance that far exceed those considered part of global best practices.

In both its day-to-day operations and long-term performance, BAC inspires an unusually high level of trust. As a result, the bank boasts a client retention rate that has repeatedly raised industry-wide benchmarks. BAC maintains a comprehensive array of products and services for both retail and corporate customers. The bank enjoys a reputation for closely engaging with its clients in order to gauge – and promptly meet – their needs as well as any future requirements.

With a tightly integrated branch network, BAC keeps in close proximity to its clients. The bank’s up-to-date technological backbone and its operational efficiency ensures that international BAC clients may now enjoy the same excellence in the delivery of financial services. The bank squarely aims to build long-term relationships with its clients based on trust, simplicity, and transparency.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Banco Agricola Commerciale for its consistency. For BAC, good corporate governance is not a pursuit of a passing nature. Instead, good governance forms part of its corporate DNA. The judges are pleased to offer Banca Agricola Commerciale the 2017 Best Bank Governance San Marino Award.

Staying on top of its game, FxPro Financial Services continues to serve its clients with a trading platform that ensures the fast and faultless execution of orders, enabling investors worldwide to gain from minute changes in market conditions. The firm, founded in 2006, has welcomed 100,000s traders from over 150 countries.Staying on top of its game, FxPro Financial Services continues to serve its clients with a trading platform that ensures the fast and faultless execution of orders, enabling investors worldwide to gain from minute changes in market conditions. The firm, founded in 2006, has welcomed 100,000s traders from over 150 countries.

FxPro’s success is owed to its ability to stay ahead of technological developments, offering investors access to the latest trading tools and platform configurations that cater to the needs of all classes of traders from novice to expert. The firm also serves the needs of large institutional investors looking for ways to grow their assets in a near zero interest universe.

FxPro maintains offices in both the United Kingdom and Cyprus. Recognised for its transparency and commitment to operational excellence, FxPro has invested heavily in a solid and secure IT backbone that couples speed to dependability and thus ensures a level playing field for all investors, irrespective of their portfolio’s size. FxPro also adheres to a comprehensive code of ethics that guides day-to-day operations and offers traders the certainty that their broker of choice remains at their side, available to offer guidance and assistance as required.

The CFI.co judging panel has followed developments at FxPro for a number of years and commends the firm on its peerless executorial prowess and continued dedication to operational excellence. The judges declare FxPro Financial Services winner of the 2017 Best FX Execution Global Award.

Buoyed by strong support from institutional investors, Deutsche Bank is now ready to strengthen its investment bank and bolster its retail business in Germany. Deutsche Bank also aims to expand its presence in North America.

One of the largest foreign exchange dealers in the world with a market share estimated to hover around 20%, Deutsche Bank is a globe-spanning financial services provider with a footprint covering more than seventy countries. As such, the Treasury Department of Deutsche Bank faces a number of significant challenges for building capital and ensuring liquidity across a bewildering array of currencies. Add to that the need to comply with legislation in multiple jurisdictions, and the magnitude of the task may be appreciated.

Yet, Deutsche Bank has deftly managed to leverage its expertise in treasury operations to fortify its position in the wake of the financial crisis which hit the bank particularly hard. Deutsche Bank was able to reclaim the strong capital position which underpinned its reputation for well over a century. The bank has also recognised that prioritising its domestic position – pursuing synergies with Deutsche Postbank it acquired in 2010 – is an essential first step towards international expansion since such an approach solidifies Deutsche Bank’s foundations.

The CFI.co judging panel commends Deutsche Bank on its resilience and determination to extract the most from its technical expertise in treasury management. The judges are pleased to offer Deutsche Bank the 2017 Best Bank Treasury Management Team Europe Award.

Africa is on the move and the pushing is being done by SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises. Small businesses account for more than a third of the continent’s economic output and are its main source of jobs. Africa is home to millions of budding entrepreneurs eager to tap into local and even global markets. Their ambition is often as great as their business savvy. The bottleneck that often stops Africa’s up-and-coming businesses from seizing opportunity is access to financing – both for working capital and expansion drives – and business knowledge.

Barclays Africa Group, present in twelve countries and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, was one of the first to identify – and meet – the needs of Africa’s SMEs. The bank reached out to entrepreneurs with a fully-featured business portal that helps users gain access to skills development and mentorship programmes, amongst others.

The highly-valued portal enables businesspeople to find public and private procurement contracts and prepare their bids. The bank encourages its larger corporate clients to list their needs and requirements on the portal and thus connect with SMEs.

The bank also actively supports fin-tech innovation through RISE, a community of entrepreneurial movers and shakers that brings together start-ups and established businesses to form a fertile pool that breeds innovation.

The CFI.co judging panel is particularly impressed with the bank’s continued efforts to help SMEs source opportunities. By doing so, Barclays Africa Group helps an already dynamic sector grow and prosper. The judges are aware that they have recognised the bank’s SME-friendly policies twice before and appreciate the consistency displayed by the group. The judges’ have no hesitation in recommending Barclays Africa Group for a third win and therefore offer the bank their 2017 Best SME Partner Bank Africa Award.