Stanbic Bank Kenya has opened a new branch in Kisumu and has also signed an MOU with the County Government of Kisumu in a bid to contribute to the growth and development of the county. This is in line with the bank’s It Can Be brand promise to support and empower the communities in which it operates in, and in turn drive Kenya’s socio-economic growth.
The opening of the new branch in Kisumu was in response to the expanding market and customer needs. The new branch is set to be a one stop hub where customers can carry out all their banking and transaction needs 24/7 anytime with the inclusion of Cash Deposit Machines and ATMs.
Speaking during the branch opening, Stanbic Bank Kenya Chief Executive, Mr. Charles Mudiwa said, “We are honored to be here today to partner with the county government of Kisumu and invest in the third largest city in the country. We are proud to open this branch today as we aim to live up to our clients’ expectations. Over the years, we have taken a proactive and intentional approach to understanding our customers and their ever-increasing needs. Our customers are gradually more in need of convenience, efficiency and user-friendly solutions.”
Following the branch opening, the Stanbic Kenya Foundation signed an MoU with the county government, in a ceremony graced by the Kisumu County Governor, H.E. Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. The partnership agreement, which is part of the bank’s FutureNiDigital campaign, was launched in 2021.
The Stanbic Kenya Foundation and the county government will offer training on digital knowledge and skills; training on entrepreneurship and access to markets; availing affordable financing to mass market and corporates; and exploring ICT innovations around renewable energy, environment and climate change, empowering the youth, women and MSMEs towards building strong enterprises in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to this, the partnership will see 1,000 government employees upskilled and seconded to the program as instructors.
During the MoU signing ceremony, Kisumu County Governor, H.E. Prof. Nyong’o noted, “Kisumu is open to collaborate with strategic partners who can contribute to turning the county into an economic hub. I believe that this partnership with Stanbic will help my administration unlock our full potential by investing in SMEs and individuals.”
He also gave updates about the upcoming Africities Summit which is set to take place in Kisumu between May 17th and 21st, 2022, saying they are expecting more than 10,000 delegates at the event. He said the county has also met with the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) to discuss preparations around the summit and that two hotels are fully booked for the event, which will position Kisumu for further growth and development. At least 360 hotels in Kisumu and neighboring counties have been identified to host thousands of guests expected to attend the summit. Africities is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa.
Stanbic Bank has been on a journey to create an impact in the lives of Kenyans through the launch of the Stanbic Kenya Foundation. Since last year, the bank has successfully forged similar partnerships with various county governments including Nairobi, Nakuru, Meru, Mombasa, Kiambu and Laikipia, in an effort to equip SMEs with the digital skills to survive and grow their businesses in a dynamic environment, especially after the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stanbic Bank Kenya is a member of the Standard Bank Group, Kenya’s seventh largest commercial bank by assets. SBG Securities Limited is a subsidiary of Stanbic Holdings Plc in Kenya and a member of Standard Bank Group. Stanbic Bancassurance Intermediary Limited (SBIL) is a subsidiary of Stanbic Bank Holdings that is mandated and acts as an intermediary between the banks’ clients and Insurers in the business of risk management through identification of client needs and matching them with insurance solutions.