The National Investment Bank will open 22 new branches across the country as part of a three-year strategic plan which seeks to place the bank in a position to compete efficiently in the banking sector.
This is expected to bring the total number of branches to 50 in 2016 to mark the fifty years of the bank’s existence.
The Managing Director of NIB, Mr Ernest Mawuli Agbesi, announced this at the inauguration of the flagship branch of the bank in Ho.
Board’s approval
“We commenced this year with 28 branches and as I speak now management has obtained approval from the board to open the 22 new branches.”
“We are going to open six branches in 2014, eight in 2015 and another eight in 2016, so that we have 50 branches in 50 years,” he said.
According to Mr Agbesi, ‘the aggressive branch expansion programme” is to bring banking closer to the people, as well as ensure greater access.
The bank, he indicated, was no longer doing development banking but universal banking, and, therefore, the Information and Technology infrastructure had been upgraded to improve on service delivery, expand its products and “meet competition head-on”.
Mr Agbesi said the NIB was focused on its aim of financing and nurturing local and domestic industries, and, therefore, called on customers to continue patronising their services, as they relied on them for the growth of the bank.
The board chairman of the bank, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, who was the guest of honour, commended the bank for diversifying its product lines and also showing commitment to partner businesses to bring development to the region.
He, however, said “the expression of commitment by NIB alone will not translate into the expansion of businesses in the region, stating that other businesses in the region had to take advantage of NIB’s presence and services to expand and provide the jobs, income and also enhance the standard of living of the people.
Be key players
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, said the new branch was a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to the people in the region in the long term.
He said the bank’s new image should, therefore, not only beautify the skyline of the Ho Municipality but also tailor services and products to benefit the customers.
Observing that the private sector was the engine of growth of the economy, Mr Ganyaglo called on the bank to be a key player in enhancing private sector performance and growth.