BPR bank marks 50 years with nation-wide campaign to bring services closer to clients

BPR Bank Rwanda Plc is marking its 50th anniversary with a countrywide campaign aimed at engaging customers, stakeholders, and shareholders. The campaign is part of a broader effort to highlight key transformations following the bank’s merger, including the introduction of inclusive financial products, digital banking services, and cross-border transaction capabilities. As part of the KCB Group, one of the region’s most valuable brands, BPR Bank seeks to demonstrate how it continues to support customer development both locally and regionally. This was during the bank's annual customer engagement event held on Thursday, June 24, in Muhanga, following similar events in Rusizi, Huye, Rubavu, and Musanze districts. It is a key part of BPR Bank's strategy to expand its reach and strengthen its connection with communities across Rwanda as it celebrates its golden jubilee. According to senior officials at the bank, the customer engagement event is a valuable platform for the bank to share its ongoing transformation, including digital innovations, all aimed at supporting people, businesses, and the wider community. The goal is to ensure quality and accessible banking services as customers embrace seamless experiences across BPR Bank’s network of over 75 branches and 2000 agents nationwide. Patience Mutesi, Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda, said the bank has so far engaged with over 500,000 customers and shareholders. During these meetings, they were informed about the bank’s ongoing changes, especially the introduction of new digital innovations. These include internet banking, mobile banking, and USSD services for international transfers through a wide network of correspondent banks, making transactions easier and more accessible for everyone. “Within our network in KCB Group, we have access in seven countries where customers are able to send and receive money at low costs. We believe that we're truly contributing towards the development of our country but also driving cross-border trade within the region,” she said. “These engagements are really useful for us to share the innovations that the bank has gone through but beyond that, it's also an opportunity for us to take a step back and listen to our customers, put ourselves in their shoes and understand the experience of working with BPR. We're in the service industry, the more we're able to interact with our customers and listen to them, the more we take a step back and continue to polish our products and services,” she added. Regarding the bank’s financial capacity, customers were informed that individuals can now access loans of up to Rwf43 billion through BPR since the Bank has grown. This makes it the most valued brand under the KCB Group across Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, the DR Congo, and its representative office in Ethiopia. “We’re proud to be part of the economic transformation in Rwanda. We've done significant transformational projects, and contributed financially to them from Agriculture to transport, manufacturers, services and more. We're seeing a lot of economic activities that we're proud to be part of and we'll continue to walk the journey with them,” she said. Tailored and inclusive financial products Xavier Mugisha Shema, Executive Director of Commercial Businesses at BPR Bank Rwanda PLC, explained that the bank now offers a wide range of products designed to serve all types of customers, including business loans, personal loans, home loans, car loans, education loans, loans against property and many others. One of the products is 'Ikamba', a comprehensive financial and business support solution tailored to the needs of women-led and women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs). It offers flexible, cash-flow-based loans of up to Rwf100 million, reduced transaction fees, smart savings options, and access to dedicated WSME service points with personalised support. Other available products include ‘Grow’, ‘Credits’, and ‘Rental of Credit’ designed to support importers; ‘Borrow’, which targets employees in both government and private institutions; and ‘Personal Loan’, where individuals can access up to Rwf50 million without collateral. There is also the ‘Overdraft’ facility for business people, among many others. Jean Paul Twahirwa, one of the customers, commended the bank’s quality services, particularly in Muhanga. However, he emphasized the need to increase the number of agents to meet the high demand for services in the town, which is a busy commercial hub with huge transaction volumes. “We usually call it a Citizens’ Bank, meaning everyone feels a sense of ownership. This gives you the responsibility to maintain the quality of services, as many people rely on the bank for their transactions,” he said.

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BPR bank marks 50 years with nation-wide campaign to bring services closer to clients