Communities want banking awareness
Community leaders in Senior Chief Wasambo in Karonga District have asked banking institutions in the district to reach rural areas with their services.
Wasambo Area Development Committee vice-chairperson Ethel Mwakasungula said civic education on the importance of banking will help people during eventualities such as fire and theft.
She said this on Friday at Hangalawe Teachers Development Centre during a meeting the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese organised for women and banking institutions in the district.
“The area has over 2 000 village banks with millions of kwacha which they keep in their houses due to gaps between banking institutions and the groups,” said Mwakasungula.
One of the participants, Glory Moyo, described the meeting as fruitful, saying previously she thought banking services were preserves of the rich people.
During the meeting, FDH Bank plc, National Bank of Malawi plc, Standard Bank plc and the newly rebranded National Economic Empowerment Fund held sessions each to promote their services such as types of accounts, loans, requirements and eligibility and interests offered.
Karonga Diacese CCJP project officer Obert Mkandawire said the active participation of the female community leaders was a clear indication that there were gaps in the banking sector that needed prompt action.
