Cal Bank shareholders cry for more

Cal Bank says it will continue with its expansion programme with branches on the Spintex road and Kumasi.

The bank also promises to introduce new products in a bid to grow its retail banking business.

The board of the bank outlined these measures at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra.

Cal Bank recorded a profit after tax of over ¢47 billion representing a 76 per cent increase from the previous year's amount of some ¢26.7 billion. Given the performance, shareholders at the meeting wanted their dividend increased, though they could not suggest any specific margin of increment.

But the Managing Director of Cal Bank, Mr. Frank Adu Junior, says the dividends will not be scaled upwards because the bank needs more capital for investment

“The most important thing is that we took ¢33 billion from the market and we said we were buying three ATMs, a branch and an office complex. The office complex was going to take about half that money. Now instead of three ATMs we have given you 21 by the end of this year…we have not come back to the market for money,” he said.

Mr. Adu Junior further explains that the banks capital base will be badly affected if shareholders benefits are increased.

“The more dividends you pay the lower your capital. Now there is something called capital adequacy and in this country if your capital adequacy ratio goes below 10 per cent you can lose your banking license... we have got to make sure that when we make profit we give some to shareholders to satisfy their needs and their expectations but we retain some to grow the balance sheet,” he said.