Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recognized Prime Bank as the 'Gender Champion' in 2020. Adding another jewel to the crown, ADB has also conferred 'Best Green Deal' Award to Prime Bank.

ADB's Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) Awards is the most prestigious accolade in the banking and financial industry in Asia, given to the institutions that work passionately to foster economic growth through gender equality and sustainability measures. This is a unique feat for Prime Bank as it has won twin awards outshining the Asian counterparts in 67 member countries where ADB operates.

The ADB TSCFP Awards were announced through a virtual award ceremony on October 28, 2020 held in Singapore. Rahel Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO and senior officials of the bank joined the ceremony.

The "Gender Champion" award is the most coveted award, recognizing extraordinary efforts made in Asia to encourage women's participation in banking industry. ADB has cited the key determining factors in conferring the Gender Champion Award to Prime Bank that includes: a balanced representation of women at entry and senior level, maintaining a percentage of women employees well above the industry average, an effective Management Trainee Recruitment Program to attract talented resources, promoting women centric initiatives through social media, policies for a safe and secured work culture, facilitating the voice of the female officials through active Women Forum and unique women initiative – NEERA to drive inclusiveness of women of all statures.

Only recently Prime Bank launched the country's most unique women-focused initiative -- 'NEERA' which made the bank a strong contender in winning the ADB Gender Champion Award this year. The primary objective of 'NEERA' is to integrate all women irrespective of age, profession, income, social status, of urban or rural areas into the financial system, especially for those who are yet to be a part of the banking sector.

Prime Bank has been persistently striving to empower women through skill development and reduce the societal gender norms that restrict female employment in Bangladesh. Not only in reducing the gender gap at work, Prime Bank is also invested in enhancing the total wellness of a women's life. Special facility provided to their female employees during this pandemic- flexible work schedules for expecting working mothers, market-competitive benefits schemes for all the employees and the women initiative "NEERA", demonstrate the bank's efforts in creating a diversified workplace and environment for females to be top leaders of tomorrow.

The "Best Green Deal Award" was given in recognition of the bank's efforts in reducing environmental externalities and risk perceptions with investing in Green Finance- particularly for financing Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at factories of its corporate clients. The bank's one particular investment result in an elimination of a wastage of 265,000 M3 by cleaning dyeing waste water as per Department of Environment (DOE) standard and then released back into canals and lakes.

On winning the awards, Prime Bank MD and CEO Rahel Ahmed said, "Gender diversity is embedded in the culture of the bank. Our motto to stimulate inclusiveness for all, ensures gender diversity at the workplace; a large number of female employees is the reflection of our journey towards diversity. Our women friendly policies render a safe working environment and provide capacity building trainings. These measures have resulted in skill enhancements, boosting their confidence to climb the career ladder and to continue excelling without giving in to societal barriers, stereotypes and prejudices. Winning both of these prestigious ADB Awards will further inspire us to make new strides in gender equality and environmental sustainability."