23 Sep 2024

 Access Bank is poised to assist women, through the newly launched banking service dubbed W-Initiative, to achieve their financial needs and aspirations in order to add value and make an impact in their lives.

Speaking at the W-Initiative launch recently, Access Bank Botswana managing director, Mr Sheperd Aisam said the initiative was inspired by the potential and boundless opportunities that existed from women and was therefore tailored-made to provide financial solutions that catered for their specific needs.

Mr Aisam said owing to the gap in the Botswana market, in terms of financial inclusion and financial literacy, there was need for financial services sector to come up with solutions that would help to address the challenge.

He said by supporting women’s financial needs, the bank would indirectly also add value to other various gender groups, supported by women in the society.

He added that the initiative offered the undervalued demographic of women significant financial tools and services, as well as professional networks and advice that ultimately allowed women to access a whole range of possibilities that would allow them to prosper in Botswana and across the continent.

“We are dedicated to walking alongside women on their journey, cultivating authentic, quality relationships that inspire them to dream big, just as our founder did. Through collaboration across our 22 markets, we’ve developed an offering made by women, for women, with a singular focus on empowerment,” he said.

He said the W-Initiative was aimed at improving women’s wellbeing and also supported women’s financial journeys regarding how they saved, invested, borrowed, spent and relaxed according to their own unique needs.

The Women Banking initiative, he said also catered for how women looked after their educational, health and children’s needs, as part and parcel of the embodiment of family. Presenting the range of services that the initiative provided, head of bank assurance, Ms Kago Mathengwane said the W-Initiative, was offered in 10 countries, including Botswana.

“Women banking initiative offers various aspects of services that mainly targeted, among others, women entrepreneurs, young women professionals, women and family, millennials and Gen Zs and women in the built environment, which included insurance, retrenchment, funeral, hospitalisation, travel insurance, wealth management and wills and financial services, as well as health and fitness,” she said.

She added that to ensure successful delivery of the initiative, Access Bank Botswana had partnered with Air Botswana, Pilates Fitness, Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories, Keno Custom Suits, Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited Group, Botswana Insurance Company, Insure Guard, Botswana Life as well as Botswana Life Financial Businesses.

In a vote of thanks, head of retail banking, Ms Grace Setlhare-Mankanku thanked all who had contributed to the launch’s success, saying the bank was constantly evolving and would eventually develop and release more new solutions.

“We are hoping to inspire, empower and connect and also give you access to many more banking solutions,” she said. ends