NMB launches 12th branch in Arusha

NMB Bank has opened a new brick-and-mortar branch in Arusha City, which is its sixth in the city but also the 12th in the region and the 229th nationwide.

NMB Chief of Retail Banking, Mr Filbert Mponzi, said Kwa Mrombo branch will spur economic growth in the area through premium banking services.

Speaking at the event to officially launch the facility on Wednesday, Mr Mponzi noted that the state-of-the-art branch consolidates NMB’s foothold in Arusha Region and cements its sectoral market leadership.

Apart from increasing the lender’s unmatched physical presence in the regional market, Mr Mponzi explained, the new branch also enhances the closeness of NMB Bank to its Arusha customers and other residents.

“The NMB Kwa Mrombo Branch becomes our 229th outlet and the first branch to be launched this year, which is also the sixth in Arusha City,” he said noting that the investment addresses the proximity challenge customers in the area had in accessing their branches physically.

“This unrivalled extensive branch network is supported by over 750 ATMs and more than 20,000 agents who can be found even in the remotest villages in the country,” he added.

Mr Mponzi said NMB is also one of the market leaders in terms of offering highly innovative virtual financial solutions such as NMB Mkononi which offers services like ‘Mshiko Fasta’ digital loans.

Commenting on the bank’s digital finance prowess, he said currently 93 per cent of all transactions are undertaken electronically outside branches.

The other NMB branches in Arusha City are Clock Tower, Arusha Market, Ngaramtoni, Arusha Business Centre and Ngarenaro. The region is also served by the Karatu, Loliondo, Monduli, Mto wa Mbu and USA River branches.

Noting that all services, including lending, will be readily available at the Kwa Mrombo branch, Mr Mponzi also spoke of the bank’s monumental contribution to nation building efforts, including impactful social investments.

He said it was in that spirit and as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations that they supported Msasani Primary School with 100 desks to help address the shortage of classroom furniture.

In his remarks to grace the development, Arusha Regional Commissioner Mr John Mongella thanked NMB Bank for its corporate generosity (CSR), which will benefit 300 pupils.

He said the region requires more corporate citizenship support in the education sector because there are still many schools without adequate desks, chairs, tables and roofing materials, which NMB offers under its CSR policy.

“I challenge Kwa Mrombo and Arusha residents to use this new branch for their personal advancement and overall national development,” RC Mongella noted.

NMB’s Head of Branch Network, Sales, Mr Donatus Richard, said the market deepening initiative is part of the overall growth strategy of the bank and its inclusive finance ambitions.

Northern Zone Manager Dismas Prosper said the Kwa Mrombo outlet is the 43rd in the zone’s four regions, which are now being served by 41 fully-fledged branches and two embedded ones.