GCB HOLDS WORKSHOP FOR CUSTOMERS IN TAMALE (PAGE 20)

THE Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) has held a workshop in Tamale on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) for its customers and the general public in the northern sector of the country.
The day's workshop was aimed at building a stronger relationship between the bank and its clients as well as enhancing the bank's collaboration with the informal sector of the economy.
The forum was the seventh in a series of workshops being organised by the bank in the regional capitals, which has already covered Accra, Koforidua, Sekondi/Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani and Ho.
Among the topics treated at the workshop were credit documentation, basic book-keeping practice, facility account operations and valuation, mortgages and securities.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Managing Director of the GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, noted that over the years, the bank had played an important role in the growth and development of SMEs in the country.
“Micro, medium and small enterprises contribute significantly towards the engine of growth, essential for competitive and efficient market and critical for poverty reduction,” he explained.
According to the MD, the GCB is the nation's leading and largest bank with 139 networked branches with wealth of experience that has nurtured and continued to support local businesses for the economic development of the country.
He said the bank had also identified and prioritised small and medium-sized businesses in agriculture, manufacturing and commerce.
Mr Adu-Mantey stated that the bank's SME division, established four years ago, manages about 678 facilities with a current value of GH¢23 million.
“In demonstration of the bank's commitment to their customers and SMEs in particular, we have established satellite offices in Kumasi and Takoradi, respectively to bring quality services and utmost relationship banking to customers,” Mr Adu-Mantey added.
He mentioned some of the new products that the bank had introduced into the system as express and international money transfer, fodem account for non-residents and trade services.
The MD said apart from the introduction of Saturday banking at selected branches and the extension of banking hours from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the bank in March, this year, also introduced royal and Internet banking (Commernet Plus) services to meet the needs of its customers.
“We also have the expertise to continue to nurture SMEs and grow you into big corporate bodies in the long term; our SME division is duty-bound to enhance organisational knowledge through relationship banking, advisory services, business services and monitoring,” Mr Adu-Mante stressed.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, entreated the management of the bank to make access to loans easy and on flexible terms to enable farmers and other petty business operators to benefit from it.
He commended the GCB for winning three awards in this year's national banking awards.