2009 Bank of the Year winner, Guaranty Trust Bank has vowed to maintain the service excellence and sterling financial performance which earned it a total of seven awards at the weekend’s Ghana Banking Awards. Apart from the topmost prize, GT Bank was also adjudged Best Bank in Retail, Product Innovation, IT and Electronic, Short term Loan Financing, Customer Advisory Services and Best Growing Bank. Senior Manager of the Bank, Joana Bannerman was excited with the success chalked by the Bank. "It gives us pleasure that we have worked hard and it has been recognised. But again it also poses a major challenge to us because it means that we have to work hard to sustain the confidence our customers have reposed in us." “We are here to make a difference in the Banking industry in Ghana,” she said, adding, “that is exactly what we are doing.” Meanwhile, Awards Statisticians KPMG has been explaining to Joy Business what it takes to be Bank of the Year. Joe Winful, Country Partner of KPMG explains: "When you come to the bank of the year, apart from the other categories you would also have to do well in grow and financial performance,” he noted. He said “we got to access your balance sheet and make sure you have got a strong balance sheet and that that bank is going to grow and in addition you have done well in other categories. First Atlantic Merchant Bank was also adjudged Best Bank in Customer Care and for both Long-term and Medium-term Financing. SG-SSB was Best Bank in Financial Performance and Competitive Pricing. Ecobank was best in Trade Finance whilst Standard Chartered Bank was the most Socially Responsible Bank. Best Bank in Corporate Banking went to the Trust Bank. Source: Joy Business/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana