18 Apr 2020

In an endeavour to help government in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has donated P10 million to the relief fund.

Speaking at the commercial banks press conference on April 18, FNBB chief executive officer, Mr Steven Bogatsu said P5 million would be deposited directly to the COVID-19 Relief Fund while the other P5 million would be used in the FNBB Foundation to help Batswana.

He said the bank’s aim was to assist the frontline workers, adding that they had also collaborated with some SMME’s to disinfect some public areas and quarantine camps to help government to reduce the risk of coronavirus.

Mr Bogatsu said they were also working with some of their customers who were in the food retail industry to help the vulnerable people with food as well as assist performing arts, which he said, had been affected by extreme social distancing period.

He urged FNBB customers to use digital banking platforms, adding that for the month of April, all services that their customers accessed through digital platforms, were going to be zero-rated.

Mr Bogatsu further said for the months of May and June, the services would be offered to customers at a rate discounted by 25 per cent.

He said the bank would offer some of their customers a loan repayment holiday for three months.

Mr Bogatsu said at the end of the repayment holiday, customers would have a choice to either extend repayment period of loans, or increase installments to cushion the period of non-repayment of loans.

BancABC managing director, Mr Kgotso Bannabotlhe said Botswana was part of the global economy and was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As BancABC, he said they would also want to do their part in ensuring that they help companies and individuals who bank with them.

Mr Bannabotlhe said the bank would offer their retail customers a moratorium repayment holiday for three months, adding that customers were also entitled to a 25 per cent discount on digital transactions, which originated from their digital channels.

He also encouraged their customers to utilise their SARU money APP, so as to avoid going to the bank. ENDS