Guaranty Trust Bank plc was incorporated as a limited liability company licensed to provide commercial and other banking services to the Nigerian public in 1990. The Bank commenced operations in February 1991, and has since then grown to become one of the most respected and service focused banks in Nigeria.
In September 1996, Guaranty Trust Bank plc became a publicly quoted company and won the Nigerian Stock Exchange President's Merit award that same year and subsequently in the years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. In February 2002, the Bank was granted a universal banking license and later appointed a settlement bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2003.
Guaranty Trust Bank undertook its second share offering in 2004 and successfully raised over N11 billion from Nigerian Investors to expand its operations and favourably compete with other global financial institutions. This development ensured the Bank was satisfactorily poised to meet the N25 billion minimum capital base for banks introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2005, as part of the regulating body's efforts to sanitize and strengthen Nigerian banks.
Post-consolidation, Guaranty Trust Bank plc made a strategic decision to actively pursue retail banking. A major rebranding exercise followed in June 2005, which saw the Bank emerge with improved service offerings, an aggressive expansion strategy and its vibrant orange identity.
In 2007, the Bank entered the history books as the first Nigerian financial Institution to undertake a US$350 million regulation S Eurobond issue and a US$750 million Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) Offer. The listing of the GDRs on the London Stock Exchange in July that year made the Bank the first Nigerian Company and African Bank to be listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
In December 2009, Guaranty Trust Bank successfully completed the first tranche of its $200 million corporate bond targeted at increasing the depth of its operations in West Africa and Europe in the next couple of years.
Culture
The Bank's culture is tied to eight guiding principles called the Orange Rules; Simplicity, Professionalism, Service, Friendliness, Excellence, Trustworthiness, Social Responsibility and Innovation.
Its value system is hinged on professionalism, ethics, integrity, and superior customer service. It maintains a culture of excellence and goes to great lengths to actualize the popular phrase; The Customer Is King and deliver to its customers at all times.
The Bank operates a very competitive environment, where people can learn its corporate culture and apply themselves in all they do. Employees are addressed by their first names from entry level through to the Managing Director- no "Sirs or Madams". In addition it operates an open door policy to foster a feeling of equality amongst staff and ensure everyone is accessible at all times.
Products
Guaranty Trust Bank plc provides a full range of commercial, investment and retail banking products/services to its discerning corporate, commercial and retail customers.
Widely recognized as a pace setter and industry leader, the bank is accredited with such innovations as the introduction of online banking in 1990, making it possible for customers to access their accounts and conduct transactions from any branch in the bank's network. In 2006, the bank launched GTConnect, a fully interactive service contact centre that allows customers conduct 90 percent of banking transactions via phone from anywhere in the world. In 2009, the bank launched the GTCrea8 student account to enable undergraduates take greater control of their finances and encourage financial discipline in the future leaders of tomorrow.
Brand Affiliations
Today, backed by its growing regional spread and strong domestic franchise, Guaranty Trust Bank's business ties extends across all continents to include over 15 overseas correspondent banks and finance institutions which include HSBC, Citibank, Bank of China, JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, Afrexim Bank, Bank of China and BNP Paribas.
The Bank's association with foremost international brands has also resulted in collaborations with institutions like Tate Britain, Nokia, Swiss Red Cross, the Greater London Authority, The Prada Foundation and The Commonwealth Business Council amongst others.
