Commercial Bank of Rwanda’s (BCR) Internet and Short Message Service (SMS) banking facilities have taken off, with hundreds rushing for the service.

According to BCR’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Vivian Kayitesi, 302 customers had registered for online banking while 1,246 had chosen (SMS) by press time.

With SMS banking, clients can get instant information on their accounts using their mobile phones while Internet banking allows the clients to consult their bank accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without queuing up in the banking halls.

The bank is introducing services that will reduce queues in banking halls and also attract the Diaspora to invest at home.

"We want people out of banks,” Kayitesi said.

SMS banking is accessible free of charge to all BCR clients with a mobile phone and online banking for those with a computer connected to the internet.

BCR clients using SMS banking are also able to buy MTN airtime using money on their bank accounts at no extra charges.

Actis, a UK based firm owns 80 per cent while the government of Rwanda has 20 shares in BCR.

Actis has turned around BCR into a profit making institution and fastest growing. It is now the second largest private bank with over 30 per cent market share in the country.

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