Amadou Samba, chairman of the Board of Directors of Guaranty Trust Bank, Gambia Ltd, has disclosed  that the bank registered over 100% growth in 2007 and that it would continue to be the pace setter in the banking industry in The Gambia.

According to him, at GTBank, getting closer to the customers, finding out their specific needs and tailor-made prudent solutions were their priority.  

Mr Samba made these remarks yesterday at a press briefing held at the bank's Head Office, centered on the financial performance of the bank in 2007, and the way forward. He stated that the year under review had been monumental in terms of performance and expansion, and that it would continue to set standards with smart strategies in adding value for greater returns.

On expansion, Mr Samba said the bank would continue to make strives in reaching the four corners of The Gambia, adding that they were working relentlessly to set up branches in some of the major towns and villages in The Gambia.

He added: "The high performance registered would not have been possible, without the relatively stable macro economic fundamentals of the country. GTBank has grown to seven branches, and was rated in 2006 the third largest bank in The Gambia and since then it continues to be a pace setter in the banking industry".

At international level, he stated that GTBank was the first African Bank to be listed in the London Stock Exchange and that it was also the first African bank, in its generation, to be licensed to operate as a full fledge commercial bank in London, UK.  He observed that recently, GTBank had been named the "Bank of the year" in an event organised by a leading Nigerian Daily Newspaper (Vanguard Newspaper).

Olaletean Sanusi, managing director at GTBank, said that GTBank had introduced a number of products and services to its customers aimed at raising convenience to another level as ATM allows customers to have access to their balance at anytime.

He added that GTBank had introduced a new service that no other bank has, citing the Electronic Notification Service (GeNs) as an example. He also noted that GTBank formerly operate D50 Million equity and now it increase to D100 Million equity.

"GT Bank has D200 Million in shareholders fund.  The biggest banks Standard Chartered and Trust Bank has the similar figure making the competition so high" he concluded.