One year and a half after Absa Group bought a controlling stake at the bank’s parent company Barclay Africa, prompting the name change, Barclays Bank of Kenya has officially changed its name to Absa Bank Kenya PLC.
The newly rebranded bank has also kicked off trading activities at the NSE under the new name, following a go ahead by the Capital Markets Authority.
In a public announcement released by the company, the firm noted that it had obtained all the requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals about the brand and name change.
“The bank will commence trading with effect from 10th February 2020 as Absa Bank Kenya PLC. All contractual relationships and obligations that the bank has with its customers, partners, and other stakeholders are not affected by the change of its name,” part of the statement indicated.
Following receipt of all regulatory approvals, Barclays Life Assurance Kenya Limited has also changed to Absa Life Assurance Kenya Limited effective 10 February 2020.
“Over the years, we have invested in crucial sectors of development of the national economy, including SMEs, agriculture, trade, agriculture and infrastructure. We will continue to play a critical role by investing in these sectors while offering holistic financial services to individuals, small businesses and large organizations alike,” Absa Bank Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori said in a statement.
On Monday, most of the bank’s branches around the country had revamped their brand features, to include a new corporate identity, logo and brand name.
The rebrand, means the company has beaten its June 2020 deadline, which it had set for rebranding all its Kenyan branches.
In 2018, London-based Barclays Plc sold most of its shares in Barclays Africa to end more than a century of the British bank’s involvement in Africa.
At the time, Absa Group Chief Executive Maria Ramos said the move would allow the bank to operate as an African brand.
“This is a defining moment for Barclays Africa. We now have a significant opportunity to determine our own destiny and make our own decisions on what is right for a pan-African focused business,” Ramos said in an official statement.
“Our new brand is an expression of our new group identity as a standalone African bank with global scalability, a single name and brand will enable us to unite behind a single identity, purpose and strategy,” she added.
The Johannesburg-listed company is present in 12 countries in Africa.
ABSA BANK OF KENYA, CAPITAL FM
