London, October 7, 2025 — iib West Africa has been recognized by Global Finance magazine with the Top Innovation in Finance in Africa award as part of “The Innovators 2025” program. The award ceremony took place in London on October 7th, bringing together global financial leaders and technology innovators from across the world.
The award highlights iib West Africa’s pioneering online account opening service, which has transformed how customers in Cape Verde and beyond access banking services—combining speed, accessibility, and security while maintaining the bank’s hallmark of personalized service excellence. “This award recognizes iib West Africa’s ability to keep pace with the growing digitization of the market and respond to the demand for faster, more accessible, and secure banking solutions while maintaining our high quality of service,” said Joseph Carasso, CEO of iib West Africa. “It is a proud moment for our team and a reflection of our continuous commitment to innovation in financial services.”
The digital account opening platform—available free of charge—allows individuals and businesses to open accounts remotely in three currencies: CVE, USD, and EU. The platform eliminates traditional barriers to entry by simplifying onboarding and ensuring compliance with the highest international standards of security and data protection.
Building on this milestone, iib West Africa plans to further expand its digital ecosystem with new features, including online credit applications, investment tools, and other essential banking services. These developments are part of the bank’s long-term strategy to make comprehensive financial solutions fully accessible online, aligning with Cape Verde’s vision for a digitally connected economy.
In attendance at the ceremony from iibGroup were S.K. Husain – COO, Husain AlMusawi – Director IT, Farah Sayeed – Director Brands and MarCom and Karine Moreno from iib West Africa.
The Innovators 2025 award recognizes institutions that are reshaping how financial services are delivered through creativity and technology. iib West Africa’s digital account opening initiative is an exemplary model of innovation driving inclusion and customer empowerment. With this distinction, iib West Africa reinforces its position as a leading financial institution in the West African region, headquartered in Cape Verde, and continues to champion innovation and accessibility as cornerstones of its growth strategy.
