BNF Bank wins ‘Best SME Partner Bank Malta 2019’
The European has selected BNF Bank for the award of Best SME Partner Bank 2019. The Bank was singled out for the award, beating competitors in the Global Banking and Finance category. The European's annual awards acknowledge achievement, innovation and excellence of those corporate organisations who demonstrate the business acumen, good governance and expertise that enable them to reach these goals.
The European is a London-based business publication valued by the international investment community. Targeting decision makers around the world, it covers a broad spectrum of global business affairs. With a syndicated news partnership with Thomson Reuters, the publication gathers its news and opinion from leading sources and looks to contributing authors to share their experience in providing cutting-edge thought leadership and commentary at the most senior level.
Michael Collis, Chief Executive Officer of BNF Bank expressed his satisfaction at being awarded this prize. "We are elated to receive this award because it is a clear acknowledgement of BNF's strategic and operational direction that has reaped great results in business consolidation. Over the past year we have worked to strengthen even further our relationships with personal customers and business clients, to deliver products that are focused and relevant as well as streamlined services that are superior. On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to thank the BNF team, without whose motivation, dedication and on-the-job expertise, we would not have been able to register such success."
BNF's Head of Business Development Melvin Pellicano explained how the Bank's innovative business product for SMEs helped the Bank clinch the award. "Our BNF Business Accelerate, which we manage with the collaboration of the European Investment Fund, has attracted many takers, proving popular among SMEs in different stages of their business cycle, from start-ups to those in a phase of growth and expansion, and onto more established and mature SMEs. The product facilitates access to finance to Maltese SMEs at lower interest rates and reduced guarantee and collateral requirements."
The product is only one of the Bank's wide corporate business portfolio which includes trade finance and business facilities for micro enterprises.
The European awards are well established and internationally recognised. They boast judging panels with extensive experience across a range of sectors. The panels are supported by a highly dedicated research team that works to shortlist firms after a comprehensive analysis of strategic business achievements in different markets across the world."
We don't have a bias towards larger and more dominant firms," said a representative of The European. "We recognise smaller participants, growth companies, and niche startups, and we asses companies purely on what sets them apart from the rest, regardless of the size of their practice."
BNF Bank is a local household name and a key player in the Maltese financial services eco-system. With personal customer lifecycle and current trends in business requirements at the core of its operations, the Bank offers a wide range of personal and business tailored products and services. The Bank boasts a 200-strong team who employs financial know-how and excellence in customer care, driven by a professional work ethic. The Bank has twelve brick-and-mortar branches as well as a strong customer care service department, a corporate and business banking unit and a digital online site that utilises robust technologies and security platforms.
