Bank of Ceylon bags two awards at SLIM-Kantar People’s Awards 2022

Bank of Ceylon Chief Marketing Officer Sameera Liyanage (centre) receiving the awards at the SLIM-Kantar People’s Choice Awards 2022. Others from left are: DGM Finance and Planning Ruwan Kumara, Chief Legal Officer Badra Kalyanapriya Gurusinghe, DGM Branch Credit Operations Range II Y.A. Jayathilake, AGM Marketing Aruna Hettiarachchi, DGM Branch Operations and Development Banking Nilantha Meneripitiyage, DGM Corporate and Offshore Priyal Silva, Manager Marketing Jagath Hiripitiyage and DGM Recovery Corporate D.S. Muthukudaarachchi.   

“SLIM-Kantar People’s Awards 2022”, adjudged the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) as the “Best Service Provider of the year 2022” and “the Best Banking Service Provider of the year 2022” which are two prominent awards in the ceremony won based on People’s vote. 

With this recognition “The Bank of Ceylon” became the only bank to receive both these titles at a “People’s Award Ceremony”. 

This is the second consecutive year the BOC was awarded the Banking Services Provider of the year since 2021.  Winners were decided based on thorough research conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketers and Kantar Sri Lanka which captured the brands that have bonded deeply with the Sri Lankan community. 

The award ceremony is considered an important event by all Sri Lankan brands for it reveals how brands have performed in terms of winning customer preference through a scientific approach. Which also is an indication of the strength of the brand in the way of addressing the needs of the customer/ community.

The research arm of the “People’s Award”, Kantar Sri Lanka which is the local partner of global Research company Kantar, has conducted a large-scale independent survey across Sri Lanka. “Bankers to the Nation”, Bank of Ceylon with its strong presence in the physical and digital atmosphere is deeply rooted with all Sri Lankan stakeholders. 

For over 82 years, BOC has been the strategic finance partner to all Sri Lankan corporates and individuals alike. Leading the Sri Lankan banking industry BOC currently boasts a balance sheet worth Rs. 3.8 trillion assets base, Rs. 2.9 trillion deposit base, and Rs. 2.6 trillion loans and advances portfolio at the end of 2021 being the only Sri Lankan banking institution to achieve such feat. 

Spread across over 2000 physical touchpoints within the country, four overseas branches in Chennai, Male, Hulhu-Male, and Seychelles, and a full-fledged overseas Bank in London, BOC is a significant stakeholder in the country’s economy. 

Its participation in the areas of financial inclusion, improving financial literacy, enabling savings and thrift, encouraging employability through entrepreneurship development and livelihood development has been empowering the entire nation by staying aligned with its vision and improvising the strategy over time. 

Additional General Manager Russel Fonseka extended his heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders of the Bank including the Government of Sri Lanka, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and all valued customers. “We consider this recognition that is given to us by our valued customers and all fellow Sri Lankans as the most important award of all awards the Bank received. 

“The Bank always has only one agenda which is to strive towards the Socio-Economic development of the country and its people. With this vision, it has been transforming the country’s banking and financial landscape and empowering Sri Lankans through digitalisation, good governance, best practices, financial inclusion, and sustainability initiatives. We are humbled and value this appreciation and most of all encouraged to do our best at all times for the betterment of all stakeholders,” Fonseka added.