Preheat the oven to 160°C (fan oven). Lightly grease the tin and line it with baking paper.
Mash two of the bananas with a fork and slice the other in half lengthwise.
Beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the beaten eggs, flour, baking powder and cinnamon, then mix.
Add the maple syrup, vanilla and mashed banana. Mix in the roughly chopped pecans and pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Place the sliced banana on top with the cut side facing up. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.
After baking, place the tin on a cooling rack and drizzle a little maple syrup over the loaf. Let it cool slightly, then remove from the tin and let it cool completely.
