SOUTHERN PROVINCE

RUHANGO —  Bank Populaire this Monday unveiled a state-of –the art branch at Tambwe.

The facility worth Frw94 million will benefit over 550 residents of Ruhango district through accessing loans and other banking services.

Commissioning the branch, Protais Mitali, the minister of commerce and industry urged bankers to promote developmental projects that would help residents to eradicate poverty.

"This is a modern bank and its value should be reflected in promoting development through proper service delivery and good workmanship,” he said.

 The minister was accompanied by Governor Fidel Ndayisaba, Bernard Itangishaka, the president of Bank Populaire Union, Mayor François Byabarumwanzi and business community.

He added that: "Ruhango has the potential to develop and the bank should focus at exploring the efforts of the business community so that all residents can learn how to save and seek loans.”

Meanwhile, Ndayisaba and Itangishaka warned against mismanagement of bank resources and failing to service credit facilities by customers.

"There have been issues of mismanagement and swindling of residents resources in the bank and this is a culture that we cannot tolerate in the province.

All the culprits should be brought to justice soon,” said Ndayisaba.

The bank was constructed in 2006 with initial capital of over Frw800million.

It also emerged that in a recent restructuring exercise, the bank recently fired four employees over mismanagement of funds while scores of diligent staff were awarded Frw100.000 each as motivation.

Ends