Intercontinental Bank Hits Kumasi
INTERCONTINENTAL Bank Ghana has extended its operations to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Last Friday, the bank concurrently opened two ultra modern business offices at Adum and Suame, both suburbs of Kumasi.
The commissioning of the Suame business office was done by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
The colourful but brief ceremony was also witnessed by the Ashanti Regional Deputy Minister, Osei Assibey Antwi and the Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Patricia Appiagyei.
In a welcome address, the Managing Director of the bank, Albert O. Mmegwa, said the bank's main agenda of coming to Kumasi was to help develop businesses, especially small and medium enterprises.
He described Kumasi as key to their operations and therefore the opening of the two branches was a dream-come-true.
The CEO disclosed that the bank, which started operations in the country two years ago, now had 11 branches nationwide.
He revealed that plans were afoot to increase the bank's agencies from the current 11 to 20 by the end of the year.
Mr. Mmegwa said plans were far advanced for the opening of branches in China and London on September 9 this year to give real meaning to the bank's intercontinental accolade.
He mentioned some of the products the bank would be offering to its valued customers as child development account, prestige account designed purposely for undergraduate students, and easy account fashioned out for workers, among others.
The CEO announced that apart from the bank having Automated Teller Machine (ATM) access at all its branches, it also operated the mastercard system.
He noted that very soon the bank would start to operate the visa card system.
The Chairman of the bank's Board of Directors, Dr. G. K. Agama said due to prudent management, the bank, which started with a working capital of GH¢16.8 million, now had a working capital of GH¢98.8 million , which represented an increment of 400 percent.
Dr. Agama, a former Governor of Bank of Ghana, promised prospective customers that the bank would provide services that would suit their pressing financial needs.
The Ashanti Regional Deputy Minister, Osei Assibey Antwi appealed to the bank to give flexible credit facilities to their customers so as to give leverage for small business operators to expand their operations.
He also encouraged the bank to provide consultancy services to its clients in order to raise their level of productivity.
The Akyeampemhene, Nana Ba Edusei Poku, who read the keynote address on behalf of Otumfuo, enjoined the bank to place premium on the delivery of social programmes which would have impact on the people in their catchment areas.
Sounding confident that the bank would succeed, he urged them to introduce innovative products as well as provide unique services to their clients.
He promised the support of the Manhyia Palace, the official seat of the Asantehene, towards the successful running of the bank.
Several hundreds of people who were touched by the success story of the bank as told at the ceremony, instantly opened various accounts with it.