Waking up early with presents and roses in your head, then sleeping late with wine in your blood and a bill on a door is a typical – actually almost the ideal Valentine’s Day for many.

Yet, only the lucky ones know about butterflies in the belly because their bank puts gifts in their hands.

Some people blushed the February 14, morning at BPR’s 168 branches across the country where they were welcomed with roses and cards.

Filled with joy, the clients found their "actual first love".

Established in 1975 as a pool of small savings and credit groups in the Eastern Province, BPR has transformed into one of the biggest retail banks in the country offering a wide range of products that include current and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, mortgages and loans.

"I just came here for a quick transaction and I was surprised with gifts from the bank. It makes me feel like I am cared for, especially on a special day like this one. It’s very clear that my love for BPR has eventually grown stronger,” Azariah Nsabiyera, a middle aged client of BPR Atlas Mara said on Friday, February 14 with a beaming smile.

He had just completed a transaction at the Bank’s branch at KBC building.

Nsabiyera has worked with the bank for 33 years.

"In all those years, I spent 28 taking and paying loans, one after another. Of course, other banks came, but something here kept me loyal,” he said.

BPR employees give flowers to clients on 14th February 2020.

This bank, he said, is special.

"They remind us of deadlines and extend (when the debt repayment date is due) them if we tell them our obstacles so nobody falls in the red zone, blacklist,” he said, adding; "We are even merrier when they send us best wishes on holidays.”

Clients at the Bank’s new headquarters located in the Central Business District also received presents.

Marie Claire Gasana, is a businesswoman who has banked with BPR since 2016.

She said her first day into the bank influenced her entrepreneurial journey.

"I fell in love at first sight. I was intrigued by how they welcomed me, the way they talked to me, the advantages they presented to me and how comfortable they made me feel, even up to now.”

Gasana was not surprised by the Valentine’s Day gifts.

 "I am now used because BPR always surprises me. They never miss any occasion to show how much they care for us. But this being Valentine’s Day, it demonstrates that they love me as much as I love them,” she said.

According to Prossie Kalisa, the Bank’s Head of Marketing and Communication, gifts were given to the Bank’s clients across all its 168 branches in the country.

"February 14 is a day of love. As BPR, we cannot let it just pass because we have clients who love us and whom we love too. And a bank can’t survive without them. That’s why we wanted to thank our clients in all branches, showing we exist because of them.”

The presents, Kalisa added, symbolise love.

"Our managers visited some clients and we receive feedback on the services and products that we provide. As our slogan says, ‘we promise to forever stay closer to our clients’.”

The Bank offers consumer banking tools like mobile banking as well as agricultural business expertise to corporate customers in the food and agri-business value chain.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com