Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Diana Brightmore-Armour, CEO Corporate Banking and co-head of corporate markets, collected the award from Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, at the CBI/Real FD Excellence Awards held at The Dorchester Hotel in London.

Hundreds of finance directors from across the UK were asked to vote in the largest satisfaction survey of its kind, rating their satisfaction with companies that provide services to UK businesses.

The service provided by different external suppliers – including auditors, banks, professional advisers and even government departments – were judged, based on finance directors’ real experiences.

In the banking satisfaction category, FDs were asked to focus on both the quality of service provided by their main bank and the degree to which their relationship manager understood their business.

To win the Bank of the Year category, Lloyds TSB beat a shortlist of competitor banks which included RBS, Barclays, HBOS, HSBC and Fortis.

Neil Mackie, regional director for the bank in Cambridge said: “This is an unprecedented third successive award and a tremendous accolade for the Bank.

“It’s the crowning glory for all the hard work that has gone into building relationships with our customers and particularly pleasing because it is the financial directors of companies that voted for us and is therefore an independent endorsement of our strategy.

“These are the people who really matter and make key decisions for businesses the length and breadth of the country.”