CRDB closes year with university sponsorships

DAR ES SALAAM: Two university students have closed the year on a high note after receiving full tuition sponsorships from CRDB Bank under its 2025 SimBanking campaign, as the lender concluded a year-long drive to promote the use of mobile banking services.

The beneficiaries are Happiness Chacha, a student at the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) and John Soka of the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), who were selected in the final draw of the campaign.

“I receive support from the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board, but this sponsorship from CRDB Bank has given me extra motivation to work even harder in my studies,” said Ms Chacha.

Alongside the sponsorships, CRDB Bank also handed out high-value prizes, including vehicles and smartphones, to other winners drawn from SimBanking users nationwide.

A Dar es Salaam resident Deo Mlawa emerged as the overall winner and was presented with a brand-new Toyota Harrier Anaconda on Tuesday, after being announced earlier this month. He described the prize as a perfect way to end 2025 and begin the New Year.

Another winner, Desderius Magombola from Meru District in Arusha Region, won a Toyota IST, new model. His vehicle was received on his behalf by Isis Nyanda during a brief ceremony held at Dar Village in Dar es Salaam after he was unable to travel due to an emergency.

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CRDB Bank’s Director of Retail and SME Banking, Mr Bonaventura Paul, said all vehicles were comprehensively insured by CRDB Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the bank, and handed over with a full tank of fuel.

During 2025, CRDB Bank awarded four Toyota IST vehicles to quarterly winners, with a fifth car reserved for the overall winner in the final draw.

The grand finale also saw two SimBanking users, Maimartha Haji Seleman of Keko and Felix Geofrey Sembwana of Dar es Salaam, winning iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones.

Mr Paul said the end of the campaign opens the door to preparations for the 2026 season, urging customers to continue using SimBanking as more prizes are planned.

He added that both existing and new customers who actively use SimBanking—whether on smartphones or basic mobile phones—stand a chance to win in future draws.