First Citizens has been named Latin Finance’s 2009 Best Bank in T&T. This is the region’s most prestigious award for excellence in retail, commercial and local investment banking across Latin America and the Caribbean, a release from First Citizens said yesterday. The bank’s group chief executive officer Larry Howai was quoted in the release as saying that “the fact that the group has won two awards in a year of an economic downturn and international bank closures, made the achievement even more significant.”

The statement said in April 2009, First Citizens was awarded the World Finance Banking 2009—Best Bank, Trinidad and Tobago from the prestigious World Finance Magazine. The bank said it was proud to be recognised for its efforts and expertise while striving to become the country’s most competitive financial group.