Tema, July 18, GNA - Financial institutions have been urged to promote responsible lending to their valued customers in a healthy and friendly relationship.

Mr David Any Sorinye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shine Credit Limited (SCL), made the call in Tema, at the launch of the third anniversary celebration of the company.

He said this would allow customers to appreciate the true state of their circumstances, in order to improve their standards of living.

Speaking under the theme: 93Building On The Past-Partnering With Our Customers Forever," Mr Sorinye appealed to financial institutions to value their customers, and provide them with opportunities that would make it easier for them to access reliable and hustle-free financial services to develop their businesses.

He said the company was bent on providing the poor and financially excluded population, mostly market women, traders, artisans, shop owners, hair dressers, butchers, farmers and fish sellers, among others, with first choice and excellent financial services.

The CEO disclosed that SCL would soon provide both local and foreign money transfer systems to its numerous customers to ease the burden they go through accessing remittance from relatives and loved ones abroad.

Touching on the Company's history, the CEO said it started in 2008 with an initial staff of three, with its objectives focused on providing micro-financial services to the un-banked population.

He said the Company now boast of a total of 147 employees, spread throughout its eight branches in three regions, namely, Greater-Accra, Volta and Ashanti Regions.

Nii Adjei Kraku the Second, Tema Mantse, who performed the anniversary launch, advised financial institutions to treat their customers with respect and dignity and to do away with staffs with dubious characters.

In line with its corporate social responsibility, SCL would, as part of activities marking the celebration, undertake a month-long Malaria Education and Prevention programme in its catchment areas from July to August, where customers would be given free mosquito nets.