Agona Nkwanta- (W/R)- March 20, GNA-Ahabank, a subsidiary of the Ahantaman Rural Bank, which is a trading company made a net profit before tax of 23.1 million cedis in 2003.

The subsidiary deals in items applied for by clients of the bank. Nana Ato Gyan, II, Board Chairman of the Ahantaman Rural Bank said these at the 20th anniversary and 16th annual general meeting of the bank at Agona Nkwanta on Saturday.

He said the operations of the bank, was expanding and therefore, appealed to members to patronise and request for their building materials, electrical gadgets and other appliances through the subsidiary.

Nana Gyan said the bank's performance rate was 11th out of 115 rural banks in the country and was listed among the Ghana Club 100 by the Ghana Investment Production Council.

Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu-Mantey, First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana said rural and community banks were established to mobilise funds from the public and channel such resources as credit facilities to support the agriculture, cottage industry and other economic ventures within the banks catchment area. March 20 05