Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank Ltd (AKRB), established on 6th September, 1983 and located at Pakyi No. 2 off the Kumasi Obuasi road has become a household name in the Rural Banking Industry because of its outstanding performance. Currently with ten branches and counting, it is described as the best performing rural bank in Ghana. This can be attributed to a host of factors such as operational efficiency, prudent management, selfless and competent staff and good corporate governance among others.
Financially, AKRB has been consistent with its performance even in the era of COVID -19 where most companies were finding it difficult to break even. The total assets of the bank as at the end of the financial year 2020 stood at 254,774,928.00 while that of 2019 was GH¢188,723,038.00 showing an increase of 34.99%. Total deposit also grew from GHC146,582,226.81 in 2019 to 205,389,992.30 in 2020 representing a growth rate of 40.11%. Loans and overdraft also saw a growth rate of 15.28% from GH¢34,919,716.00 in 2019 to GH¢40,257,485.36 in 2020. Shareholder’s Funds recorded as at the close of 2020 was GH¢46,003,572.98 while 2019 recorded GH¢37,575,423.00 at an increasing rate of 22.42%. The bank recorded a 46.42% increase in profit before tax from GH¢6,121,498.86 in 2019 to GH¢8,963,079.27.
| KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR | 2020 | 2019 | % CHANGE
|
| TOTAL ASSETS | 254,774,928.00 | 188,723,038.00 | 35.00 |
| DEPOSIT | 205,389,992.30 | 146,582,226.81 | 40.11 |
| LOAN AND OVERDRAFT | 40,257,485.36 | 34,919,716.00 | 15.28 |
| SHAREHOLDERS FUND | 46,003,572.98 | 37,575,423.00 | 22.42 |
| PROFIT BEFORE TAX | 8,963,079.27 | 6,121,498.86 | 46.42 |
AKRB has over the years contributed its quota towards community building by supporting the communities in its catchment areas. These supports in the form of Corporate Social Responsibilities continue to position the bank firmly in the hearts of its beneficiaries. AKRB is a member of Ghana Club 100 and have created a positive impact in the Ashanti Region which led to the Bank being awarded as the “Best Regional Rural Bank of the year (Ashanti Region) -2015.” The bank was again ranked as the second best CSR Company in the 2015 rankings by the Ghana Club 100. It was also ranked 32nd in its 2016 edition.
Due to the bank’s excellent performance, many prestigious awards have been conferred on it both locally and internationally. The bank is also well known in the prestigious CIMG Awards. It has won the prestigious CIMG Rural Bank of the year Awards for four times on 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019 and currently reigning. It was also adjudged ‘Best enterprise’ in the field of Banking by the International Achievements Forum, 2017 which was hosted by the Europe Business Assembly in the Socrates Awards Ceremony -UK, for the strong position at the national market and in international sector ratings.
In the year 2018, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industries also conferred on the Bank the Rural Bank of the year Award.
On the occasion of Ghana’s Diamond Jubilee in 2017, the Ashanti Financial Service Awards in its 14th edition conferred on the bank Gold Award (Overall) in the Rural Banking category for its immense contribution to the economic Development of Ashanti. Same Award was conferred on the bank in the year 2018 and 2019.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Current Account Overdraft Facility
Fixed Deposit Salary Loan
Susu Savings Church Development Loan
Savings Account Susu Loan
SME / Institutions SME Loans
Church Development Clearance Loan
Foreign Funds Transfer SMS Alert Service
AKRB Mobile Banking App (in the trial stage)
Bankassurance
CORE VALUES
- Customer Delight
- Integrity
- Efficiency
- Flexibility
- Accountability
- Community Development
- Teamwork
COVID-19 INTERVENTIONS
Atwima Kwanwoma designed some credit relief packages for clients to cushion them to cope with the effects of COVID-19.
The offers include tenor extensions and deferment on eligible loans for clients in vulnerable sectors highly impacted by the pandemic particularly Susu loans, SMEs (Loans and Overdrafts) and Clearance loans.
These relief interventions became necessary because of the trickle-down effect of COVID-19 on rural banks and the banking sector in general.
The Bank has also given special consideration of three months moratorium to private school teachers, salary workers of private institutions and churches that have taken loans for their development projects.
The Bank has also suspended charges and insurance on facilities to these three most affected areas of their customers.
Other interventions include application for additional facility with existing security, existing principal loan balance and new loan approved are put together and spread over the new loan term with commitment and insurance fees applied to the new loan facility.
The bank donated boxes of hand sanitizers costing GH¢10,000 to seven health facilities within their operational territories to support government’s effort to fight the spread of coronavirus.
The CEO has also won for himself both international and local awards and current among them is the conferment of the Most Respected CEO’s Award (Rural Banking) on him by the Business Executive in the year 2020.
