The association of workers at SteelRwa has won Rwf5 million in the just-concluded I&M Bank "Kira-Biba Usarure” promotion. Terimbere Mukozi wa Steel Association was formed by a group of 250 workers at the Rwamagana-based steel factory over two months ago, who then opened a savings account in I&M Bank during the promotion.

The workers save a portion of their salaries each month and they had raised Rwf2.4 million by the time they were announced "Kira-Biba Usarure” promo winners. Sharon Kamaliza, a student at University of Lay Adventist Kigali (UNILAK) Rwamagana campus, won a laptop.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony in Rwamagana District, Robin Bairstow, the bank’s chief executive officer, said the bank has performed well this year, adding that the number of customers has increased, thanks to improved services.

Bairstow said the bank plans to strengthen its technology infrastructure next year so as to improve service delivery and increase digital offerings. He noted that campaigns like Kira-Biba Usarure are an opportunity for the bank to interact with its customers.

The three-month campaign, which started at the beginning of September and ended on December 1, was aimed at encouraging people to open accounts in the financial institution, officials said.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Emmanuel Ndikubwimana, the human resource manager at SteelRwa, said the association was formed two months ago to encourage employees at the firm to save.

"We have different income-generating projects, but we will use this money to buy a Rwf20 million FUSO truck for our logistics project, which will enable us to earn more money.”

Kamaliza, the laptop winner, said she was initially worried where to get a computer to conduct her research project. "The laptop will help me to do my research project… I was planning to borrow from friends, but now I have my own laptop,” Kamaliza said after receiving the computer.

The third-year finance student at UNILAK opened an account with the bank two months ago.