First National Savings and Loans Limited opened its branch in Sunyani on Friday with a call on the youth, especially students to cultivate the habit of saving.
Mr Samuel Addo-Nortey, Finance Manager of the bank, who made the call in Sunyani, said with increased savings, the cycle of poverty could greatly be reduced.
He said the bank aims at becoming "People's Bank" where its customers such as traders, farmers, students, workers and small scale business entrepreneurs everywhere in Ghana would be provided with efficient banking services.
Mr Addo-Nortey said the bank aims at providing customers a convenient way to save and to obtain credit.
"For the traders, who travel across the country, we aim to provide a safe and secure way to access their money to transact business," he added.
Mr Addo-Nortey said the bank, which started operations in 2006, currently had 42,677 customers and had disbursed a total of GH�23.97 million loans to clients and has 20 branches located in all the regions in the country.
He said plans were far advanced to open five more branches in 2010 in fulfilment of the bank's vision to be the "People's Bank".
The Finance Manager said the bank offers financial advisory services, business advisory services and one-on-one relationship personal banking.
He said, the bank has designed a product named "Wo Daakye" savings account, to meet the needs of customers include. Wo Daakye, he explained is a saving for the future and designed for everyone with high earnings.
The bank also offers microfinance or group loans, local money transfer as well as international money transfer via Western Union.
Professor Kwasi Nsiah Gyabaah, Principal of Sunyani Polytechnic advised the youth to plan for their future to avoid encountering financial problems.
"Learn to save in the banks to help eliminate poverty," he said, and urged staff of the bank to work assiduously and shun fraudulent practices that could mar the image of the bank.
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