Standard Bank Group, Stanbic IBTC Bank has been rewarded with the coveted “Best Customer of the Year” award from Toyota Nigeria Limited recently for financing the highest number of Toyota vehicles sold in the country in 2009.

The award was instituted by Toyota Nigeria Limited to encourage the sale of its products in the country and to reward those who have recorded significant milestones in attainment of this goal.

In achieving the feat, Stanbic IBTC beat a strong field of other financial institutions. It came on the strength of vehicle purchases made in 2009 under the bank’s Vehicle and Asset Finance (VAF) scheme, as well as a promotional campaign it ran from October to December last year in collaboration with Elizade Nigeria Limited, the leading Toyota dealer in Nigeria.

Besides the plaque which Warren Smith, Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance received on behalf of the bank, Stanbic IBTC also got a new Toyota Corolla vehicle for its effort.

Bimbo Ashiru, Head, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Investment, Stanbic IBTC Bank, who described the award as humbling, said it highlights the rising profile of Stanbic IBTC as the preferred destination for transactions relating to vehicle and asset acquisition.

This, he said, is characterized by very customer-friendly terms such as adequate funding, an experienced team, good dealer network and the drive to help customers achieve their business and personal goals.

“We set out with a clear objective to make the acquisition of assets for qualifying businesses and individuals easy and without undue pressure of acquiring such assets with money or funds that could otherwise be utilized as working capital.