Commercial Bank voted Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Loved’ Banking brand for third consecutive year

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reaffirmed its leadership in Sri Lanka’s banking sector by being ranked the No. 1 banking brand in the Service Brands category for the third consecutive year in LMD Magazine’s 2026 Most Loved Brands survey, while also being placed second among all service brands in the country. 

The survey, conducted by PepperCube Consultants among LMD’s readership, assessed brand affinity across 45 sectors, spanning corporate, product, service and new brand categories. Within the banking sector, which is segmented into private and state institutions, Commercial Bank emerged as the clear favourite among private sector banks. 

Commenting on this latest recognition, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said: “To be consistently recognised as a ‘most loved’ brand is both humbling and deeply significant, because it reflects an emotional connection built over time through trust, reliability and meaningful engagement with our customers. In an environment where expectations are constantly evolving, we have remained anchored to our core purpose while continuously adapting to understand and serve our customers better. These rankings affirm that our commitment to authenticity, service excellence and innovation continues to resonate strongly with the people of Sri Lanka.”

LMD noted in its 2026 report that in today’s complex and unpredictable business landscape, resilience alone is no longer sufficient for brands to endure. Instead, authenticity, clarity of purpose and the ability to respond consistently to changing market dynamics are what distinguish truly enduring brands. Against a backdrop of economic pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and shifting consumer expectations, the survey highlights those brands that have successfully maintained relevance while staying true to their identity, the magazine said.

Commercial Bank’s continued prominence in these rankings reflects its sustained focus on customer-centricity, underpinned by ongoing investments in service excellence, digital innovation and inclusive engagement. The Bank’s approach prioritises understanding and responding to customer needs, supported by continuous monitoring of customer sentiment and agile implementation of improvements across its operations.

This latest accolade follows a series of recent recognitions driven by public endorsement, including being voted the ‘People’s Private Banking Services Brand of the Year’ for the fourth consecutive year at the SLIM Kantar People’s Awards 2026, further consolidating the Bank’s position as the most popular private sector bank in the country.

With a brand that continues to evolve in step with the aspirations of its customers, Commercial Bank said it remains firmly positioned among Sri Lanka’s most trusted and admired institutions. 

The first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalisation exceeding US$ 1 Bn., and the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World, Commercial Bank has the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks, is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, and the largest lender to the country’s SME sector. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, the Bank is recognised as the most respected and most-awarded bank in Sri Lanka, is a leader in digital innovation and is the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.

Commercial Bank operates more than 270 strategically-located branches and an extensive network of automated machines island-wide, and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 21 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully-owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance PLC. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.