By JAMES MUYANWA in NCHELENGE –
THE National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) has continued its branch upgrading and expansion programme in which the indigenous bank is providing financial services closer to the rural dwellers in the country.
The wholly Government-owned bank has continued opening up new branches in unreached areas while modernising some existing ones thereby helping to provide rural people with access to quality banking services.
. Chikwanda
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda is today expected to officially launch one such branch here in Luapula Province.
All is set for the opening of the new and modern building housing the NATSAVE branch.
NATSAVE director – business development , David Mukwavi, comfirmed here that Mr Chikwanda was expected to arrive today ahead of the official launch of the new building for the bank, later in the morning.
The launch of the new Nchelenge NATSAVE branch adds to the number of such branches which have been launched after either being built or upgraded within this year.
The last one was the Chongwe branch which was launched on September 9 2015 after it was constructed at a cost of K3 million.
Four branches in Mwense in Luapula Province, Kazunguka in Southern Province as well as Chinsali and Mpika in Muchinga Province are also on cards.
The ongoing branch expansion and upgrading programme has been made possible through the Government allocation.
The local people here have welcomed government’s continued investment into rural districts through the bank.
Those talked to, especially traders, said that they expected the bank to help their businesses grow by providing the much-needed finances, through relevant loan facilities.
“We are happy about the upgrading of our bank, NATSAVE, and we hope that it will provide funding, through loans, for our small businesses,” said Madren Change, who sells fish at Old Kashikishi Market.
Currently, NATSAVE is the only bank with permanent presence in this relatively young district while others only operate some agency banking system.
