Bank Windhoek has become the first homegrown Namibian company to win a SMARTIES® Sub-Saharan Africa Award, a global marketing accolade presented by the Marketing and Media Alliance (MMA).
The bank’s “Is it possible to love a Bank?” campaign earned four awards at the ceremony held in Cape Town.
The campaign won Gold in the Short or Long Video category, Silver for Brand Experience, Silver for Omnichannel Marketing and Bronze for Creator/Influencer Marketing.
The SMARTIES® Awards, established in 2005, recognise marketing innovation that drives business growth. The awards are organised by MMA, which operates in 18 countries and is known for its strict judging standards.
This year’s competition saw 135 entries from across Sub-Saharan Africa, evaluated by more than 60 marketing professionals.
Bank Windhoek said the recognition highlights the strength of Namibia’s marketing industry.
The campaign was produced entirely in Namibia and featured real stories, with more than half of the cast made up of Bank Windhoek employees.
“This award is a proud moment not just for Bank Windhoek as a homegrown brand, but for Namibia,” said Jacquiline Pack, the bank’s Executive Officer of Marketing and Corporate Communication Services.
“It affirms that Namibian creativity and brand storytelling can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with industry best practice.”
Pack said the campaign was built on authenticity and emotion, emphasising that banking is ultimately about people. She added that the bank is grateful to its employees, customers and suppliers who contributed to the project.
