Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has secured a series of
high-profile recognitions that underscore the Bank’s disciplined execution,
bold innovation agenda, and unwavering commitment to responsible growth.
Under the leadership of Dr. Philip Oti-Mensah, UMB continues
to pursue a clear ambition — to become Ghana’s most reliable bank, built on
integrity, resilience, and measurable impact.
At the prestigious Africa Leadership Persons of the Year
Awards, UMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Oti-Mensah, received the
Special African Banking Leadership Commendation Award — a recognition of steady
stewardship, strategic clarity, and a transformation journey anchored in
long-term value creation along side other several distinguished leaders
including: John Dramani Mahama – African of the Year 2025, John Agyekum Kuffour
– Outstanding African Leadership Legacy Award, Samuel Matekane – African Inspirational
Leadership & Good Governance Impact Award, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – African
Political Leader of the Year, Esperança da Costa – African Female Leader of the
Year, Austelino Tavares Correia – African Lawmaker of the Year. Some
institutional honourees included African World Airlines and Saxton Ghana
Limited, among others.
UMB’s recognition within this distinguished gathering
signals its growing relevance and credibility.
On the same platforms (Africa Leadership Persons of the Year
Awards)The Bank was also named Digital Bank of the Year (Ghana), affirming its
deliberate investment in secure, scalable digital platforms designed to enhance
customer experience, strengthen governance, and improve operational efficiency.
Further demonstrating its commitment to enterprise
development, UMB was honoured with the Excellence in SME Banking Award at the
25th Edition of the Connected Banking Summit – Accra 2026, reinforcing its
growing reputation as a trusted partner for Ghanaian businesses. With 24
successful editions across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, the
Connected Banking Summit has evolved into a benchmark platform for senior
Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) leaders shaping the future of
finance.
The Silver Jubilee West Africa Edition, themed “Next-Gen
Finance West Africa: Resilient, Scalable & Customer-Centric,” convened over
300 CEOs, regulators, innovators, and technology leaders in Accra to define the
region’s priorities for a more connected and digitally empowered ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address, Samuel Nartey George,
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, emphasized that
digital transformation must be anchored in governance, customer trust, and
inclusion. He urged financial institutions to ensure innovation delivers
tangible benefits to SMEs, women, youth, farmers, and the informal sector.
Against this competitive backdrop, UMB stood tall among its
peers to be adjudged Excellence in SME Banking, reinforcing its strong
commercial franchise and commitment to empowering Ghanaian enterprises.
A transformation anchored in people, process and
technology
UMB’s ongoing transformation journey is deliberate,
structured, and holistic. It involves continuous staff capacity building to
strengthen service delivery, deepen technical competence, and cultivate a
high-performance culture across the Bank.
At the same time, UMB is reshaping customer experience
across all touchpoints. Recent milestones include:
The launch of the new UMB SpeedApp — the Bank’s enhanced
mobile banking application delivering faster, more secure, and intuitive
banking.
The rollout of a redesigned corporate website serving as a
modern digital gateway to the Bank.
The modernization of the Bank’s Contact Centre into a
24-hour, user-friendly engagement hub to ensure customers receive timely
support whenever they need it.
These initiatives collectively reinforce UMB’s ambition to
combine reliability with innovation — ensuring customers experience is
consistently excellent whether digitally or in-branch.
“These recognitions represent disciplined teamwork and the
trust our customers place in us,” Dr. Oti-Mensah said. “To our customers — your
confidence inspires us. To our staff — your professionalism delivers excellence
daily. To our Board and Management — your steady guidance keeps us focused. And
to prospective clients — we invite you to experience the reliability and
service that earned these honours. Our journey is one of continuous
improvement, purposeful innovation, and measurable impact.”
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