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Intercontinental Bank Ghana (IBG) Limited has made significant strides in the country�s competitive banking sector, resulting in its recent achievement as the fourth-best ranked company in the prestigious Ghana Club 100 rating. The annual Ghana Club 100 award rating established by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) in 1998 seeks to recognise the contribution of the top-100 companies for their successful enterprise in strengthening the country�s economy. Companies making it into the award rating are therefore expected to serve as role-models for the private sector, as well as provide a forum for corporate Ghana to interact with the government at a higher level. The bank�s ranking as the fourth-best company in the Ghana Club 100 rating as a first time entrant, with other achievements such as one of the three fastest-growing companies as well as the best-rated bank within the ranking, show its performance in the country�s economy. Managing Director and CEO of the Bank, Mr. Albert O. Mmegwa, attributed the recent achievements to the constant efforts at consolidating the growth which the bank has recorded over its five years of existence in the country�s financial sector. �Our achievement of the objectives we set for ourselves was aided by the ability to drive our marketing theme for the year, �Service Excellence�, he said, adding that the Ghana Club 100 rating is an endorsement of the bank�s performance. The bank continued to maintain a well-diversified income base in 2010 and a more efficient utilisation of its deposit liabilities culminating in a profit of GH�10.73million before charging the loss of its associated company, and finally a net profit before tax of GH�9.65million. Its total assets of GH�540million in 2010, a little over 25 percent higher than the 2009 position, the CE0 said, was achieved mainly with an increase in customer deposits of 25 percent from the 2009 figure of GH�329million, and in stated capital of nearly 90 percent owing to recapitalisation efforts. Competition in the banking industry looks keener, and the significant decline in the market shares of the top-five banks in 2010, with related decline in their assets, is a reflection of the intense competition in the country�s banking industry. The bank has the widest range of Visa Cards products today in Ghana which includes the Visa Debit, Visa Credit and the Gift Cards However, the IBG CEO noted that as part of efforts to consolidate the bank�s hold on the banking sector, the products development function of the bank is being revamped with more resources channeled to this area to facilitate the customer satisfaction drive. Other development efforts include strategic alliances with other institutions to ensure efficient service to customers, as well as a retail banking arm aimed at reaching a lot more of the non-banked population. �As Ghana joins the world-league of oil producing countries, IBG will continue to strengthen its systems and operational platform in anticipation of increased economic activity in the country,� Mr. Mmegwa said. The CEO intimated that IBG�s admission into the Ghana Club 100 is enough testimony that the bank has grown since it commenced operations in the country�s growing banking sector five years ago, and has 28 branches currently.