WHY SHOULD WE INVEST IN RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS? THIS QUESTION ARISES AMONG THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS, OF GHANAIANS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND SEMI-RURAL AREAS. THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO AT LEAST USE THE SERVICES OF THOSE BANKS ONCE A WEEK ON MARKET DAYS.
THIS FREQUENT USE OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY WE SHOULD INVEST IN THEM. THEY CAN ONLY KEEP AND BETTER THEIR SERVICES IF THEIR CAPITAL BASE IS ADEQUATE. ADMITTEDLY, THERE ARE SOMETIMES FLAWS IN THEIR SERVICES, BUT YOU AS A CUSTOMER ONLY HAVE A CHANCE TO INFLUENCE THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE WHEN YOU ARE ALSO A SHAREHOLDR – THAT IS MAINLY ON THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM). AT THS EVENT, YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR PROBLEMS YU HAVE WITH YOUR BANK.
AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS NEED A STRONG CAPITAL BASE IN ORDER TO PERFORM WELL. A WEAK CAPITAL BASE PUTS FEARS INTO MANAGEMENT, STAFF, AND CUSTOMERS. THERE ARE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF EXAMPLES IN WHICH A WEEK CAPITAL BASE LED TO THE BANKRUPTCY OR LICENSE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BANKS CONCERNED.
IN THIX CONNECTION, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT RURAL AND CMMUNITY BANKS ARE FOR MOST OF THEIR CUSTOMERS THE ONLY LINK TO FINANCIAL SERVICES. WITHOUT THEM, PROBABLY A LOT MORE PEOPLE WOULD PUT THEIR MONEY UNDER THEIR PILLOW. THEREFORE, RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE WITHIN THE GHANAIAN ECONOMY. CONSEQUENTLY, WE SHOULD NOT ONLY BUY SHARES IN RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS, BUT ALSO OPEN ACCOUNTS WITH THEM IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO FINANCIAL INCLUSION.
AND FINALLY, IF YOU BUY SHARES IN RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO BENEFIT FROM DIVIDENDS WHICH COULD MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES BETTER.
SO, WHY SHOULD WE INVEST IN RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS?
- ONLY RURAL AND COMMUNITY MANKS WITH A STRONG FINANCIAL BASE CAN PLAY THEIR ROLE AS PROVIDER OF FINANCIAL INCLUSIN WELL.
- FINANCIALLY STRONG RURAL AND COMMUNITY BANKS CAN OFFER BETTER SERVICES.
- AS A SHAREHOLDER, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO INFLUENCE THE SERVICES AND THE POLICIES OF THE BANK.
- AS A SHAREHOLDER, YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
