Bank of Ceylon amongst top 1,000 global banks

Sri Lanka’s leading bank with 73 years of strength, trust and stability, the Bank of Ceylon is proud to receive the global recognition as one of the top 1,000 banks in the world, by the world’s premier banking and finance magazine, The Banker.

The Top 1,000 banks were selected in recognition of global leaders in the industry for their achievements. The rankings are one of the industry’s most-widely-used index of global banking, and are internationally recognised as the definitive guide to the soundness, strength and profitability of banks. The Banker Magazine was first published in January 1926 in the UK and circulated over 180 countries. It the key source of data and analysis for the industry in international finance affairs.   Bank of Ceylon serves over 10 million customers island wide and its commitment to each of them remains steadfast. Fitch Rating Lanka Ltd. has upgraded Bank of Ceylon’s national long-term rating to AA+ (lka) with a Stable Outlook, which is the highest rating awarded to a local commercial bank.



Brand Finance Lanka has ranked BOC as the number one brand in Sri Lanka for the last four consecutive years.

Its multi-faceted offering is one of its greatest strengths. From the children’s savings account to corporate credit, for State sector and private companies, it serves at every level. The bank has the strength and the diversity of resources to offer its customers a range of financial solutions, such as corporate banking, personal banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, off-shore banking, development banking, international and Treasury operations and trade financing services, through its widely spread branch network and extension offices close to 600 covering all parts of the country.

At present the bank has over 1,000 customer touch points covering branches, extension offices, ATMs and over 800 foreign corresponding agents.

Commenting on this achievement, Bank of Ceylon Chairman Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe stated: “The bank has reached this milestone with a clear vision to make the impossible possible. That is ‘One Ten Twelve,’ the corporate agenda for 2012, which translates into one trillion assets and Rs. 10 billion profit in year 2012. This task was achieved well before the target date, in mid 2012.  Therefore BOC became the first bank in Sri Lanka to reach a prodigious milestone by achieving Rs. 1 trillion in assets.”

Dr. Wickramasinghe stressed: “If you have a clear vision, anything is possible to achieve.”

BOC possess the strength and the diversity of resources to offer a complete range of financial solutions to its customers. BOC has further expanded its unprecedented banking and financial services to overseas branches in Chennai and Male and banking operations in London.

Commenting on this global recognition, Bank of Ceylon General Manager K. Dharmasiri stated: “The bank has reached its pinnacle in 2012 by achieving key milestones in terms of growth in the bottom line of the bank and expansion in all business areas. It has touched more than 10 million lives in the country. We are leading in every aspect of banking and financial services.”

Maintaining solid partnerships with the private sector, BOC supports infrastructure development activities, provision of working capital and significant investments in Government projects. Aligned with the Government’s pursuit of socioeconomic development, the bank took major strides to assist in the country’s unprecedented demand for monetary support by easing loans as well as service provisions across the economy, especially in the north and east.

On 1 August 2012, Bank of Ceylon celebrated its 73rd anniversary – a voluminous period of strength, success, and stature. Leading the banking and financial sector since 1939, BOC has constantly succeeded in contributing to the growth of the nation and continues to assist the development of the country and guiding entrepreneurs to reach greater heights, which makes Bank of Ceylon the ‘Bankers to the Nation’.