Zanzibar: PEOPLES’ Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) has opened mini branches at the Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) terminal III; and the High Court of Zanzibar premises, Tunguu in Unguja South, as part of ongoing plans to extend services closer to customers.
The branches will cater for all existing and prospective corporate clients and visitors, mainly tourists using the airport and also enhance and speed up both local and international transactions.
“We are committed to increase and improve our network to drive financial transactions and businesses forward,” PBZ Managing Director Dr Muhsin Salim Masoud said.
Dr Masoud added that the bank with capital value of more than 1tri/- is among the top ten best performing banks in the country.
He said the bank has also recently paid about 10bn/- as dividend to the government and will continue to pay other range of taxes required for the Islands economic growth.
“We thank the government of Zanzibar for providing a conducive business environment for the bank and other investors to grow,” Mr Masoud said, adding that the bank eyes to open branches abroad.
On her side, State Minister- Office of the President (Finance and Planning) Dr Saada Mkuya Salum, commended the bank and said the development will promote banking businesses across the country and beyond.
“We are happy with the pace of development of PBZ, a contribution to the growth of business in this country,” she said.
Dr Mkuya said that the new branches will offer better services in the areas and ease operations to cater for the increasingly important sectors of trade, blue economy, and tourism.
The minister urged staff to step up efforts to provide better services to meet customers’ needs and encourage the public to use the branches, which will provide services for 24 hours.
She praised the bank for doing well and its move to operate in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and other areas, while also planning to open a branch in Dodoma and Tanga.
The Unguja South Regional Commission (RC) Rashid Hadid Rashid also thanked PBZ for opening the branch in his area of Tunguu Court.
The Airport Senior Officer Mr Fadhil Omar Ali said the presence of customer service centres will help those entering and exiting the country in getting fast financial services, and also attract tourists to use the airport.
