06 Mar 2025

Bank Gaborone is an emblem of trust and a beacon of economic dynamism, says acting President, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe.

Speaking at the official opening of the bank’s Main Mall branch, yesterday, Mr Gaolathe commended the financial institution for its journey from humble beginnings to becoming a driving force in the economy.

“As we inaugurate this establishment, we do so with the understanding that a bank is not merely a vault of capital but a reservoir of hope,” he said, emphasising that the banking sector was a crucial pillar of economic development.

The acting President further lauded the bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, acknowledging its recent P250 000 contribution towards flood relief efforts, which he said was a testament to its dedication to both financial and social well-being.

“This new branch is more than just an extension of services, it is an invitation to every entrepreneur, every dreamer, and every hardworking Motswana to seize their future with both hands,” Mr Gaolathe remarked.

Bank Gaborone Managing Director, Ms Olebile Makhupe, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to serving its clients, strengthening financial empowerment and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.

“We are taking this commitment to new heights by introducing a space that blends cutting-edge technology with the warmth of personal banking, prioritising your comfort, convenience and financial well-being,” said Ms Makhupe.

She added that the new branch was equipped with the latest fiber-optic internet, self-service kiosks, cash deposit ATMs, and a loan centre to ensure a smoother, faster, and more efficient banking experience.

Addressing past customer concerns, Ms Makhupe said Bank Gaborone had placed innovation at the core of its three-year strategy, developing secure and advanced banking solutions among them the Card-2-Card, a first-of-its-kind feature that allows customers to send money instantly to a Visa debit or credit card using the recipient’s card number.

The bank also introduced Easy-2-Pay, a mobile point-of-sale app designed to meet the payment needs of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), and EasyWallet, a mobile wallet that enables cash withdrawals from selected stores equipped with its POS machines.

Mr Tshepo Maruatona, Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Manager, who has been with the bank for 14 years, shared his personal connection to the occasion.

“To have the Acting President open this branch, just as his father once opened our Francistown branch, makes this a deeply sentimental moment,” he said.

A local small business owner in Main Mall expressed keen interest in the bank’s savings and interest rates, stating that they seemed more competitive than those of other banks she had considered.

“I was once a Bank Gaborone client. With this new branch opening, I think I might just invest in the bank again,” she shared. ENDS