Barclays Bank of Kenya (BBK) was on Wednesday taken over by Absa Bank at a ceremony held at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Westlands, Nairobi.
The Chief Executive Officer, Absa Group Limited, Daniel Mminele at the launch of Absa Kenya and change of name ceremony said Absa seeks to contribute to Kenya’s economic growth and will support Kenyans to realize their full potential.
“We reaffirm our commitment to Kenya and will continue to invest in the country. Banking and the economy is an integral part of the citizens’ growth and we want to give value to the society we serve,” said Mminele.
The CEO said the Bank does not see itself as lender, but as a corporate body that is fully committed to bring the rich long history it started in the African Bank to build a bright future and desire where stakeholders and customers enjoy various products offered by the bank.
He said for the last three years, Absa has been working on changing the name and brand across the continent, noting that the prospect of new Absa is to put customers at the Centre of everything the bank does.
Mminele thanked the banks clients for their support and sticking with Absa from the time the name was announced and the National Securities Exchange for guiding the process which has been successful.
In his remarks, the CEO and Managing Director Absa Bank Kenya, Jeremy Awori said the bank has embarked on a new era with huge opportunities, saying that the trading of shares by Absa at the National Securities Exchange will help Kenyans and the entire African continent to attain their goals.
“Absa is a more inclusive brand as it connects with the young people and entrepreneurs who are future of the country’s economy,” he said.
Awori who reiterated that Absa is a retail and business banking, assured that the bank has full services and products for everybody.
The Absa Group Bank whose headquarters is in Johannesburg, South Africa is a diversified financial services provider offering an integrated set of products in 12 African countries and plans to open international offices in the United Kingdom and the Unites States.
The Countries are Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Seychelles, Ghana, Nigeria, Nambia, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda.
Absa Group Limited, formerly Barclays Africa Group Limited, and originally Amalgamated Banks of South Africa, is an African based financial services group, offering personal and business banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management.
By Bernadette Khaduli