Sultan Choudhury wins Signature Award for ‘Excellence in Banking’
Sultan Choudhury, Chief Executive Officer of Al Rayan Bank – the UK’s largest Sharia compliant retail bank, has been recognised at the annual Signature Awards for ‘Excellence in Banking’. The Signature awards celebrate high calibre professionals from across the Midlands, who have driven their markets forward and served the business community. With a special focus on those involved in the wealth creation process, the categories included banking, law, accountancy and land, architecture and property development.
Now in its third year, the Signature Awards enjoyed its most popular year to date, as over 500 professionals from across the region gathered at Edgbaston Stadium for the award ceremony on 10 February 2017.
Commenting on the award, Mr Choudhury said, “I’m delighted to accept the Signature award for ‘Excellence in Banking’, especially amongst such stiff competition. In reality of course, I am receiving this award on behalf of the whole team at Al Rayan Bank, who share my commitment to achieving excellence in everything we do: from introducing innovative new products and services that enable Muslims to bank without compromising their beliefs, to championing inclusive finance and creating a level playing field for Islamic banking, to providing an ethical alternative to conventional high street banks for non-Muslim customers.”
This is the second time within three months that Al Rayan Bank has scooped top honours at prestigious regional awards. In November, it won two of the six categories in the annual Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) awards, which are designed to celebrate and showcase Asian businesses in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The Bank won the first ever ‘Outstanding Large Business’ award to be given by the ABCC, in addition to being recognised for its ‘Outstanding Customer Service’ levels. Al Rayan Bank was established in 2004. With a national retail branch and agency network, as well as online, mobile and telephone banking services, the Bank serves many thousands of customers of all faith.
Al Rayan Bank is dedicated to strong, faith-based ethics and great customer service, and in May 2015, it was named by Global Finance magazine as one of the best Islamic banks in the world, in its annual list of the World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions.
Al Rayan Bank is an ethical bank. In December 2015 it was awarded the Investors in People Standard, demonstrating its commitment to realising the potential of its employees. Just five months previously, the Bank was accredited as a Living Wage employer.
The Bank has been recognised as an ethical alternative to conventional banks by the Move Your Money campaign, and Ethical Consumer magazine, which rated it in the top ten ethical current account providers. As an independent UK bank, Al Rayan Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority and is a member of Financial Services Compensation Scheme.