Events – 2015
January
Commercial Bank’s 238th Service Point opens in Nochchiyagama
February
Commercial Bank’s 239th Service Point opens at Chankanai in Jaffna
March
Commercial Bank’s 240th Service Point opens in Batapola
Commercial Bank takes digital banking to Jaffna
The Bank actively promoted digital banking options such as Online and Mobile Banking services to customers in the Jaffna Peninsula
April
Commercial Bank helps empower sea weed cultivators of North West
The Bank extended its support to sea weed cultivators in the North West of Sri Lanka, as part of the Bank’s ongoing initiative to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and micro entrepreneurs with the technical knowledge and financial literacy required to develop their businesses.
Commercial Bank launches ‘Millionaire Account’
A new, aspiration targeted investment plan that enables account holders to build up a minimum balance of Rs. 1 Mn. within a specific period without a high initial investment, was launched by the Bank.
Commercial Bank launches ‘Sipnena’ e-learning on Microsoft Cloud
A new educational website that will bring the universe of knowledge closer to Sri Lankan children was launched by the Bank as a community initiative that builds on the Bank’s ongoing commitments on a national scale, in the spheres of IT literacy and online education.
May
Commercial Bank launches ‘Divisaru’ Savings Account to help micro businesses
A special Savings Account designed to support micro entrepreneurs and promote financial inclusivity to this segment has been launched by the Bank.
June
Commercial Bank adjudged among Best in Asia by FinanceAsia in 2015
The Bank has been adjudged the ‘Best Bank’ in Sri Lanka in 2015 by Hong Kong based ‘FinanceAsia’ magazine. This will be the fifth ‘FinanceAsia Country Award for Achievement’ presented to Commercial Bank in the seven years since the Bank became the first entity in Sri Lanka to receive this prestigious accolade in 2009.
Indra Finance, a fully-owned subsidiary of Commercial Bank, renamed Serendib Finance
Nine months after it acquired Indra Finance Ltd., the Bank announced the renaming of its fully-owned subsidiary as Serendib Finance Ltd.
Commercial Bank begins Myanmar operations with opening of Yangon office
The Bank opened its representative office in Yangon, formally launching its operations in Myanmar, initially to offer advisory services to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi businesses wishing to enter that country, and to arrange banking and advisory facilities, funds transfer and encashment services.
Commercial Bank opens 241st & 242nd Service Points in Wattegama and Katugastota
July
Commercial Bank launches new paperless Green Banking facility
The Bank commissioned the first of a new generation of automated cash deposit terminals that completely eliminate the use of paper, in another example of the Bank’s continuing investment in Green technology and sustainable development.
Commercial Bank in World’s Top 1000 Banks for 5th successive year in 2015
The Bank was once again been ranked among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, in the prestigious rankings published annually by ‘The Banker’ Magazine of the UK, becoming the only Sri Lankan Bank to achieve this feat, five years in a row.
Commercial Bank Bangladesh receives highest rating of AAA for 5th consecutive year
The AAA (Triple A) long term credit rating accorded to the Bangladesh operations of Commercial Bank PLC has been reaffirmed by Credit Rating Information and Services Ltd. (CRISL) for the fifth consecutive year. Triple A is the highest credit rating given to any financial institution in Bangladesh by CRISL.
Commercial Bank rated the strongest Bank in Sri Lanka by Fitch
The National Long Term Rating of Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC has been affirmed at ‘AA(lka); Stable Outlook’ by Fitch Ratings Lanka.
Commercial Bank is Euromoney’s Best Bank in Sri Lanka in 2015
Euromoney, widely considered one of the world’s leading financial magazines, has adjudged Commercial Bank as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka in 2015 at the magazine’s Asia Awards for Excellence presented in Hong Kong.
August
Commercial Bank launches low cost insurance for micro borrowers
A low cost insurance scheme that will protect micro borrowers was launched by the Bank in association with two insurance companies, Ceylinco Insurance and BIMA a Sweden-based micro insurance service provider.
Commercial Bank Balangoda branch moves to new eco-friendly building
The Bank launched a new eco-friendly model for branches in buildings owned by the Bank, in yet another initiative to align its operations with the needs of the planet.
Commercial Bank ‘Most Respected Bank in Sri Lanka’ for 11th consecutive year in 2015 by the LMD
The Bank has been rated the ‘Most Respected Bank in Sri Lanka’ for the 11th consecutive year and the second ‘Most Respected Corporate Entity’ in the country overall for the fifth successive year in the 2015 LMD rankings of the Most Respected Entities in Sri Lanka.
September
Commercial Bank supports ‘Construct 2015’ as Official Banker
The Bank supported Sri Lanka’s construction sector as Official Banker to ‘Construct 2015’, one of the largest construction sector exhibitions in the South Asian region.
Commercial Bank wins international recognition for its Green Banking efforts
The Bank’s efforts to make its operations more eco-friendly was acknowledged internationally with the Award for ‘Best Sustainability – Green Initiative’ at the 2015 Asian Customer Engagement Forum (ACEF) Awards in Mumbai.
Commercial Bank to commence fully-fledged banking operations in Maldives
The Bank announced plans to extend its services to the Republic of Maldives following the receipt of regulatory approval for the establishment of a fully-fledged Tier I Bank in the idyllic archipelago. Maldives operation will be the third overseas banking operation of the Bank.
Commercial Bank adjudged ‘Bank of the Year’ 2015 by the UK-based International Banker
Commercial Bank has been adjudged Sri Lanka’s ‘Commercial Bank of the Year 2015’ by the UK-based International Banker.
The award is the first from International Banker to a bank in Sri Lanka.
October
Commercial Bank ranked 2nd in Business Today’s Top 25 PLCs
The Bank was ranked second in Business Today’s ‘Top 25’ public listed corporate entities in Sri Lanka in 2014/15 on the basis of financial performance.
Thousands of kids at Commercial Bank’s commemoration of World Children’s Day
Unbridled fun befitting children was in ample evidence when the Bank celebrated World Children’s Day by treating more than 2,000 little Sri Lankans to a special event at the Leisure World theme park in Hanwella on 1st October.
Commercial Bank’s ‘Arunalu’ rewards country’s brightest young students
The Bank presented the three top achievers at the 2015 Year 5 Scholarship Examination with rewards under the aegis of ‘Arunalu’ – the Bank’s signature Savings Account for Children.
Commercial Bank opens 243rd, 244th, 245th and 246th Service Points in Bandarawatte, Wennappuwa, Badulla (2nd outlet) and Arrivals Terminal of BIA Katunayake
November
Commercial Bank launches Green Development Loans to support country’s sustainability agenda
Loans of up to Rs. 25 Mn. are now available at concessionary interest for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs that wish to invest in energy saving, energy efficiency or off-grid renewable energy projects including investments in solar power.
Commercial Bank integrates with BFC’s ‘EzRemit’ for instant remittances to Sri Lanka
Users of EzRemit, a leading remittance service in Bahrain, who send funds to beneficiaries in Sri Lanka via the Commercial Bank, are now offered an instant, real-time transfer, following the integration of the web systems of the two entities.
December
Commercial Bank bags Gold for Best Annual Report in Banking Sector for 12th time
Commercial Bank Annual Report 2014 was awarded the Edmund J. Cooray Memorial Trophy for the Best Annual Report among Banking Institutions, the Gold Award for Management Commentary, the Silver Award for Corporate Governance Disclosure, the Bronze Award for the Best Annual Report Overall across all sectors and the Bronze for CSR Reporting at the 2015 Annual Report Awards of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka).
Commercial Bank branches go green
The Bank announced that its environment-related initiatives have made steady progress in 2015 with the installation of solar power systems at four branches, the award of tenders for five more branch conversions, and the acquisition of 20 more paperless deposit machines.
Commercial Bank unveils new initiative to sharpen students’ math and analytical skills
A ground-breaking new initiative to stimulate and develop the mathematical and analytical skills of schoolchildren in Sri Lanka was launched by the Commercial Bank as a project aligned with the Bank’s education-centric corporate social responsibility agenda.
Commercial Bank the highest ranked Bank in latest LMD 100
The Bank topped the LMD 100 ranking of Sri Lanka’s leading listed companies in terms of Assets, taken second place overall on Profit After Tax (PAT) and fifth place overall on Turnover in the magazine’s rankings for 2014/15. The Bank also won the Sector Award for Banking.
Commercial Bank Annual Report 2014 wins ‘Asia’s Best Integrated Report’ Award
Commercial Bank Annual Report 2014 was adjudged ‘Asia’s Best Integrated Report’ at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards in Singapore.