The fidelity bank team receiving the award
Fidelity Bank Ghana was crowned the winner of the Excellence in SME Banking Award at the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025, held in Accra.
The award, co-located with the 18th Edition Connected Banking Summit – West Africa, recognises the bank’s ground-breaking efforts in driving financial inclusion, fostering innovation, and empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of Ghana’s economy.
Reflecting on the award and the bank’s journey, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Ghana, Julian Opuni, underscored the institution’s dedication to SME growth.
“SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, contributing over 70% of Ghana’s GDP and employing millions. At Fidelity Bank, we recognise that their success is our success. This award validates our relentless pursuit to provide not just financial solutions, but holistic support through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and innovative platforms. We are committed to creating and supporting sustainable businesses whose ripple effects—job creation, community development, and economic resilience—will propel Ghana forward.”
Commenting further on the award, Mr. Opuni noted, “This award is not an endpoint but a milestone. We will continue to innovate, collaborate, and invest in SMEs—because when they thrive, Ghana thrives.”
In a related initiative, the bank’s Green Tech Innovation Challenge has awarded over GH¢1.4 million to 17 innovative agritech businesses addressing key challenges in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Furthermore, Fidelity Bank’s landmark agreement with Proxtera to launch the Ghana Integrated Financial Ecosystem (GIFE) Platform has empowered SMEs with enhanced access to finance, expanded customer reach, and essential business skills. The bank has also taken significant strides on the international stage through its Fidelity Export Club, which offers a comprehensive export value proposition, educational seminars on sustainable practices, and participation in global trade fairs—benefiting over 400 exporters and farmers.
Additionally, the transformative BRIDGE-in-Agriculture (BiA) initiative, launched in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has addressed the funding gap in agriculture by disbursing GH¢47.97 million to SMEs and smallholders since its inception. This initiative has reached 11,000 smallholder farmers, created 1,790 new jobs, and sustained 3,209 existing ones, with over 41% of beneficiaries being women.
A Business Desk Report