It has been a fortnight since BPR Bank Rwanda Plc was officially launched by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister Dr Édouard Ngirente at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali. As the confetti fell to the final bits of applause from a cheerful audience, it got me thinking about the future ahead for the new entity, which for those who might not know, is a merger of the former KCB Bank Rwanda Plc and Banque Populaire du Rwanda Plc. BPR Bank Rwanda Plc is now one bank, with one vision, serving one customer base. An exciting challenge lies ahead, one that requires reflection, especially on the needs of our most important stakeholders, our customers who ultimately require service excellence at all times which has inevitably prompted the organization to always strive for best in class technology, product and service offering, as well as qualified and regularly trained human resources. Looking back at what was formerly KCB Bank Rwanda, where I served as Managing Director for four and a half years, there was a considerable amount of effort and enthusiasm from a small but committed group of people. Starting out with a handful of employees in 2008, and a minimum capital requirement, it was a daunting task for both the newly formed enterprise and its shareholder, KCB Group Plc. But with a well-articulated vision, and motivated staff, the sky has always been the limit. Ironically so, KCB Bank Rwanda would go on to contribute to Kigalis skyline through investments in Kigali Heights, Marriott Hotel, Ubumwe Grand Hotel and Park Inn Hotel to mention a few. Any incremental success in KCB Bank Rwanda was down to a profound connection between the bank and its customers. A customer need for efficient service delivery was prepared for by daily emphasis to staff that customers were in fact the primary reason for the banks existence. Therefore, progressing in a symbiotic relationship, requires across the board understanding of these concepts. Unfortunately, that has for a long period been the service industrys pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Despite the mythical nature of everyone believing in the same philosophy, at the same time, its especially important that we all strive to achieve this level of uniformity - in grasping for the ambitious, we achieve the great. Today, as Managing Director BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, my resolve is to bring that ubiquitous belief to all staff that customer prosperity is the only metric that matters. Looking back at the historic and community-based roots of Banque Populaire du Rwanda, Im especially reminded of the humble beginnings of KCB Group Plc. An oddly similar trail of activities, starting as a branch of National Bank of India branch in the Island of Zanzibar in 1896, changing ownership to Grindlays Bank UK in 1958 and subsequently with Kenya Commercial Bank formally incorporated in 1970 after the Government of Kenya acquired 100% shareholding, setting up a widespread network of outlets purposed to serve local communities then rebranding to KCB Group in 2005. BPR would kick start its financial service business in 1975, serving Rwandans as a cooperative, expanding into a microfinance company and eventually being incorporated as a bank. Over the years, the bank has experienced change through mergers and acquisition but remained steadfast in its brand presence in Rwanda, maintaining its strategy to serve the population from every corner of the country, with over 140 branches, aggressively bridging the financial inclusion gap. The combination of expertise, and legacies of both KCB Bank Rwanda and Banque Populaire du Rwanda will continue to inspire BPR Bank Rwanda to go ahead and build on the ambitious expectations we have set for ourselves in delivery of memorable experiences. Customers must experience limited effort in consuming our services, accessing a large variety in product offering and should prosper in all their endeavors, both personal and business. A branch network of 154, and asset base of Rwf670 billion ranks BPR Bank Rwanda as the 2nd biggest bank in Rwanda, the perfect platform to stretch our collective imagination to strive for more and achieve our ambitious goals. The writer is Managing Director, BPR Bank Rwanda Plc.
