Amansie West Rural Bank inaugurates OWASS branch

The Amansie West Rural Bank at Antoakrom in the Amansie West district of Ashanti Region has inaugurated its new office premises at Opoku Ware Senior High School at Santase in Kumsai.

This brings to ten the number of branches currently being operated by the bank. These include Bekwai, KASS Campus, Manso Adubia, Manso Nkwanta, Central Market, Antoakrom, Anwia Nkwanta, Ahodwo and the newly-inaugurated Owass branch.

According to the Board Chairman Mr. Isaac Otchere-Antwi, the primary objective of establishing a branch on the Owass campus is to bring the foregoing services of the bank to doorsteps of the community to relieve it from the high cost of accessing financial services at distant places in the Kumasi metropolis.

Another purpose is to bring on board the unbanked in adjoining communities so they come to the realisation of banking benefits and advantages, as well as protecting monies meant for students’ upkeep and payment of school fees by the students.

Amansie West Rural Bank has been noted for being the pacesetter in setting up branches and spearheading branch openings on school campuses with the primary objective to introducing domestic banking to students and assisting their finances in the area of paying school fees and upkeep monies.

Other branches opened on other school campuses include the Kumasi Anglican Senior High School in the Kumasi metropolis and Akrokeri College of Education at Adansi Akrokeri in the Adansi North district of the Ashanti Region.

The Archbishop Emeritus I – Most Rev. Peter Akwasi Sarpong who unveiled the plaque and cut the tape to inaugurate the office complex, commended the board and management of the bank for the remarkable achievements in its operations.

He advised management and staff of the bank to eschew dishonesty and do modern day banking with integrity, and in the “catholic way” since banking thrives in a dignified environment. He told management not to rest on their oars but strive hard to defy all odds and improve on their operations.

Archbishop Akwasi Sarpong was also grateful to the Board of the bank for siting one of its branches at Opoku Ware School, which automatically makes him a major stakeholder; and because of that he will personally be interested in the developments and happenings in operations just to ensure responsibilities that were captured in the signed agreement are kept.

The Kumasi branch Manager of ARB Apex Bank Limited Mr. George Kweku Annor, on behalf of the Managing Director of Apex Bank Mr. Kwadwo Aye-Kusi, congratulated the board and management of Amansie West Rural Bank for its overwhelming operational performance and consistent growth for the past five years.

The Managing Director has therefore told management and staff of the bank to uphold its excellent customer service which has been the rural banking industry’s hallmark.

He further advised management and staff of the bank to maintain culture of maintenance to keep the newly-inaugurated Owass branch in good condition at all times.

In an interview with Business & Financial Times, General Manager of the bank Mr. George Osei-Mensah said he and his management team will not relent in their efforts to continue improving on their operations.

He said it is the Board’s vision to put up permanent structures for all its branches. He was proud to announce that the bank’s most remarkable achievement is the fact that it owns eight out of the ten premises from which it operates.

The bank has recorded consistent growth in its indicators over the years, has operated efficiently and profitably, and is currently among the best-five rural banks in the Ashanti Region.

It has also been a member of the Ghana Club 100 of reputable companies in the country since its first entry in 2005. It placed 43rd in the last edition of the rankings for the year 2014, held in October 2015.