20 Feb 2013

The National Development Bank (NDB) in the past reduced the number of its branches because there was no business to support the existence of many branches throughout the country.

Responding to a question in Parliament, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Kenneth Matambo said it was in that regard that there had been no business case made for the establishment of a permanent branch in Lobatse.

Mr Matambo said specific relationship managers had been assigned to take care of customers in this region, including farmers mostly situated in the Barolong area.

The minister said the bank had also invested in the purchase of mobile branches which would be stationed periodically in different locations throughout the country, including Lobatse. The delivery of the caravans, he added, was expected next month.

Parliament heard that as part of the bank’s continuous effort to improve its accessibility, it would continue to come up with innovative ways to improve customer access and put up permanent branches where there was a viable business case to do that.

Minister Matambo was responding to a question from Lobatse MP, Mr Nehemiah Modubule who had wanted to know when NDB would establish a branch in Lobatse. ENDS