The Akuapem Rural at Mamfe in the Eastern Region, has held its Annual General Meeting to discuss its operations during the 1997 financial year.

The Chairperson of the Board of directors, Dr. Gloria Nikoi, in her report said the Bank made a net profit of 53-point-four million cedis whilst total deposits amounted to 885 million.

Other sectors that improved were the number of ordinary shares, loans and advances, the capital adequacy ratio and investment in treasury bills. Dr. Nikoi said there was improvement in the Banking-on-Wheels Programme, the Women-in-Development programme and the establishment of agenies and mobilisation centres.

She said arrangements are well advanced for the re-launching of the bank's schools savings scheme which will initailly cover three second-cycle institutions ont he Akuapem Ridge. The aim of the scheme is to encourage the habit of saving among yound people and educate them ont he relationship between savings, credit and employment. Dr. Nikoi advised the people to buy more shares to increase the bank's share capital for more investment and community development.