01 Mar 2022

Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) has increased its footprint in the market by opening another branch in Gumare to cater for customers in the Ngami area.

Speaking at the official opening of the branch recently, Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said the opening of the branch would help bring diversity to banking services already offered by ABSA bank.

He said availability of the branch in the area would also save Ngami people from travelling to Maun to access services adding that some come as far as Gudigwa village across the Okavango River.

Mr Hikuama encouraged the villagers to adopt the spirit of saving money with banks. He said gone were the days when people used to save by keeping livestock instead of selling some and saving the proceeds in the bank.

BSB board member, Ms Matilda Basinyi said they saw it fit to open a branch in Gumare looking at how the village was developing. “BSB recognises the need for provision of accessible financial solutions for villages like Gumare where there is phenomenal growth and upcoming developments.

The BSB smart branch provides enhanced fully fledged banking solutions to the community of Gumare and surrounding villages,” she said.

Ms Basinyi explained that BSB’s mandate supported the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development’s financial inclusion roadmap and strategy, which she said laid out national priorities for enhancement of financial inclusion in Botswana.

The strategy, she said was designed to improve the payment system, that is access to low-cost savings products and the credit reporting systems.

“BSB was appointed to champion the priority area of focusing on access to low-cost savings products, given the important role the bank plays in pioneering savings in Botswana,” said Ms Basinyi.

For his part, Kgosi Moitshepi Molelwa of Gumare, commended BSB, adding that Gumare was the headquarters of Okavango sub district with high economic activities.
He also noted that BSB would alleviate congestion at ABSA automated teller machines on busy days. ENDS