Accra, Aug 10, GNA - Barclays Bank Ghana Limited is set to increase its branches to 64 from the current level of 31 by next year in a bid to capture a large portion of the industry's market share. Similarly, the bank is also working to augment the number of Automated Teller Machines to about 100 as against the current 28. Branches would be opened at Bolgatanga, Swedru, Aflao, Kasoa, Techiman and Asafo, among others.

Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Managing Director of Barclays Bank of Ghana who announced this at the inauguration of the Legon Branch of the Bank on Friday, said moves were in line with the bank's expansion programme and aimed at positioning it to become the leading contributor to the country's economic growth and development.

Although the bank has a branch at Legon campus, the increasing student population and residents in the area the bank has become smaller in meeting the needs of the publics.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the needs of its numerous customers could only be achieved through expansion.

"We will not be able to play that role if we remain lean and thin on the ground, if we stay out from key commercial centres in the country and if we do not take our financial inclusion agenda to another level by increasing access to our banking facilities", she said. Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the bank was responding positively to the challenges in the industry through offering customers' diverse superior products and services.

Professor Kwesi Yankah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, described the opening of the new branch offices as a renewal of faith between the bank and the university.

He added that the bank should continue sponsoring the needy but brilliant students to achieve their goals to perfection. Mr. Elly Odhong, Retail Director of the bank, in his welcoming address said; "we are poised to accelerate our goals with our expansion project as the basis ...we will transform both corporate and retail customer experience to a level which has never been witnessed in this country."