Keystone Bank Limited has been honoured with the “Most Friendly SME Bank of the Year 2024” award at the Champion Newspapers Annual Awards held recently in Lagos.

The award, presented by the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recognises the bank’s outstanding support for Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises sector.

Keystone Bank was celebrated for its leadership in expanding access to finance, providing capacity-building initiatives, and offering customised financial solutions that empower small businesses across the country.

Dabiri-Erewa, while presenting the award to Keystone Bank’s Executive Director, South and Corporate Bank, Nnenna Anyim-Okoro, lauded the bank’s dedication to driving SME growth and sustainability in Nigeria.

She said, “The reward for hard work is more work. This award is a testament to the remarkable efforts Keystone Bank has made in empowering Nigeria’s small and medium-sized businesses. It shows that there is more work to be done, but this recognition affirms that the bank is on the right path.”

In her remarks, Anyim-Okoro expressed heartfelt appreciation to the organisers for the recognition and reaffirmed Keystone Bank’s unwavering commitment to delivering innovative support and solutions that empower SMEs across Nigeria.

“We are truly honoured to receive this award, which reinforces our mission to be a dependable partner in the growth journey of SMEs across Nigeria,” she said. “At Keystone Bank, we understand that SMEs are not just a sector—they are the engine room of national development and a key driver of employment, innovation, and grassroots empowerment.”

She added that the recognition reflects the bank’s strategic investments in developing bespoke financial products, enhancing access to finance through digitised loan platforms, and rolling out sector-specific training initiatives aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with the skills needed to thrive.

Also in attendance were senior executives of Keystone Bank, including Emmanuel Ntomchukwu, Directorate Head, Lagos Mainland; Chinyelu Ogufere, Group Head, Industrials & Emerging Sectors; and Tina Ebuehi, Department Head, Retail Products & Value Chain Management.