Guarantee Trust Bank Ghana Limited Saturday night dislodged Zenith Bank (winners for 2008) and emerged Ghana's Best Bank for 2009, winning the coveted award at the 9th Ghana Banking Awards. It was a total haul as the bank swept seven additional awards including Best Bank in IT and Electronic Banking, Best Bank in Product Innovation, and Best Bank in Short Term Loan financing. The other categories in which Guarantee Trust Bank won were Best Bank in Retail Banking, Best Bank in Customer Advisory Services, and Best Growing Bank for the year 2009. GT Bank also won 1st runner-up in Customer Care. First Atlantic Merchant Bank also put up impressive performance in the year, obtaining the first position in Best Bank in Medium Term Loan Financing and Best Bank in Customer Care. Notching up from its 2008 position of 1st runner-up in Long Term Loan Financing, First Atlantic also won the Best Bank in that category in 2009. It won 2nd runner-up in three categories – Best Bank in Retail Banking, Best Bank Corporate and Best Bank in Short Learn Financing – and one 1st runner-up positions – Best Bank in Trade Financing. The event was held at the Accra International Conference Centre and was impressive as usual. Ghana music legend A B Crentsil added a touch to the ceremony with impressive music that got many of the industry players who converged at the ceremony tapping their feet and those who were old enough remembered what they call the good old day. The Banking Awards, which is an annual event, has as its core objective, fostering healthy competition amongst banks operating in the country and ultimately improve the quality and efficiency of financial services delivery to Ghana's banking population. Messrs KPMG, the reputed research institution, was responsible for data collection and analysis. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana