Tuesday, 20 May 2025
The following are the current and most updated awards categories. These categories are adjusted periodically to align with the industry transformation. In 2024, ‘Best Transaction Bank’ category was introduced to honour overall excellence, while the ‘Most Sustainable Transaction Bank’, launched in 2022, continues to gain strong interest from regional and global banks. Recognising tokenisation's impact on transaction banking, ‘Best Tokenisation Initiative’ was added under the Frictionless Transaction Awards in 2024.
With domestic Asian transaction banks emerging as a strong regional force, we have expanded the scope of the awards to include a broader range of Asian Global Transaction Finance Awards. These awards recognise domestic banks headquartered in Asia-Pacific that have significantly grown their franchise and network in key growth markets across the region. In addition, with significant growth in Financial Institution (FI) solutions over the past two years, we now feature a dedicated questionnaire for currency clearing across major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, RMB) and institutional payments.
Financial institutions from Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa can choose to apply across more than 40 different award categories. These awards are open to banks, non-bank financial institutions, financial technology companies, and other alternative players from Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region. Each category lists awards applicable specific to region, unless otherwise stated.
1. Global Transaction Finance Awards – ASIA PACIFIC
The Global Transaction Finance Awards recognise Global and Asian Global transaction banks, supported by a strong regional franchise that demonstrate the successful implementation of regional customer mandates, while supporting complex financial operations across multiple geographies in the region.
- Best Global Transaction Bank in Asia Pacific*
- Best Global Cash Management Bank in Asia Pacific
- Best Global Trade Finance Bank in Asia Pacific
- Best Global Supply Chain Finance Bank in Asia Pacific
- Best Global Institutional Payments Bank in Asia Pacific
- Most Sustainable Global Transaction Bank in Asia Pacific
Asian Global Transaction Finance Awards – ASIA PACIFIC
- Best Asian Global Transaction Finance Bank in Asia Pacific**
- Best Asian Global Cash Management Bank in Asia Pacific
- Best Asian Global Trade & Supply Chain Finance Bank in Asia Pacific
- Best Asian Global Corporate Payments Bank in Asia Pacific
* Best Global Transaction Banks in Asia Pacific
This category recognises the leading global financial institutions with the strongest transaction banking presence and performance across Asia Pacific. These banks have demonstrated regional leadership in delivering comprehensive solutions across cash management, trade and supply chain finance, institutional payments, and digital infrastructure. Winners are selected based on their ability to serve multinational clients, integrate across markets, and maintain consistency, innovation, and operational excellence throughout the region.
** Best Asian Global Transaction Banks in Asia Pacific
This category recognises Asian-headquartered banks that have built globally competitive transaction banking franchises. These institutions are distinguished by their growing regional footprint, global aspirations, and ability to deliver end-to-end solutions in cash management, trade and supply chain finance, and corporate payments across Asia Pacific. The winners reflect the strength, innovation, and rising influence of Asia-based banks in shaping the future of transaction banking on a global stage
2. Payments and Currency Clearing Awards, Asia Pacific (applies to Asia Pacific only)
The Payments and Currency Clearing Awards recognise the increasing development and sophistication of multi-currency and cross-currency clearing capabilities of global banks. Winning banks are selected based on a combination of their payment and foreign exchange (FX) capabilities, as well as their currency clearing services rankings by domestic banks in the FI satisfaction survey.
- Best Global (Multi-currency) Clearing Bank
- Best Dollar Clearing Bank
- Best EURO Clearing Bank
- Best GBP Clearing Bank
- Best JPY Clearing Bank
- Best RMB Clearing Bank
3. Domestic Transaction Finance Awards (By Country)
The domestic awards, also known as Transaction Finance Awards by country, recognise leading transaction service providers within their respective countries across the Asia-Pacific region. They typically demonstrate a significant market presence, the ability to secure a substantial share of local corporate wallets in cash management and working capital and excel in resolving operational challenges in a domestic context.
- Best Transaction Bank
- Best Cash Management Bank
- Best Trade Finance and/or Supply Chain Finance Bank
- Best Corporate Payments Bank
4. Frictionless Transaction Awards in Asia Pacific
Frictionless Transaction Awards are designed to track and recognise customer initiatives through a solution-centric approach. Winners exemplify excellence in customers' problem scoping, effective solutioning across several emerging categories, and, more importantly, significant impact demonstrated through improvements in customer financial and non-financial metrics.
- Best API Initiative
- Best Blockchain in Trade Finance Initiative
- Best Collection Solution/Initiative
- Best Corporate Mobile Initiative
- Best Digital Business Banking Platform/Initiative
- Best Digital KYC/Onboarding Initiative
- Best Digital Trade Finance Platform
- Best ERP Integration/H2H Solution, Initiative
- Best Financial Supply Chain Initiative
- Best Foreign Exchange (FX) Solution, Initiative
- Best Payments Initiative
- Best Productivity, Efficiency and Automation Initiative
- Best Tokenisation Initiative
- Best Treasury Management Solution
- Best Virtual Account Management Initiative
- Most Sustainable Trade and Supply Chain Finance Initiative
5. Leadership in Transaction Finance Awards
The Transaction Finance Person of the Year recognises global and/or regional transaction bankers with exceptional leadership skills, perseverance, vision and verve to grow their franchises sustainably. Winners demonstrated distinguished career in financial services, leadership of successful institutions with a robust performance track record, inspirational achievements during challenging and transformational periods, and a significant impact that sets a precedent in the industry. Please note that banks are not required to nominate their heads for this award. The Asian Banker, in conjunction with the advisory council, maintain a list of leading practitioners and nominate the Transaction Finance Person of the Year.
6. Bankers’ Choice Awards
Bankers’ Choice Awards, industry’s first bank-partner corporate recognition programme, recognise winners who collectively leverage the financial supply chain to add value to their business partners' upstream and downstream activities. In these set of awards, partner banks mandate execution capabilities and customers’ resilience are jointly recognised.
1. Financial Supply Chain Awards
- Best Balance Sheet Management
- Best Financial Supply Chain Management
- Best Inventory Management
- Best Supplier Relationship Management
2. Bank-Client Partnership Awards
- Best Cash Management Project
- Best Corporate Trade Finance Deal
- Best Corporate Payments Project
- Best Transactional FX Deal
