Kumasi, Oct. 11, GNA - Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), the country's biggest bank, on Tuesday cut the sod for work to begin on a 15 billion-cedi branch at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

The new building, which would replace the old structure, would have a banking hall, a back office for staff, Manager's office, six cashiers' cages, bulk cash facility, ATM and a parking lot, among other facilities.

It would also have the Bank's new Royal Banking concept, which it is about to be out-doored and designed to reduce long queues in the banking halls.

Mr F.K. Asamoah, Board Member of GCB, said the hallmarks of the Bank's Royal Banking are flexibility, speed, convenience and delivery of high quality customer service.

He said the decision to build a new branch was in line with modern trends of business and in response to the expansion, population increase and improvement in the infrastructure at the University. The Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa lauded the Bank for its support to the University's core mandate, saying the Bank was working on proposals to construct a modern lecture theatre or an auditorium for the College of Architecture and Planning. "We are very appreciative of the Bank's efforts but would like to further urge the Bank to explore other areas of engagement to benefit both of us," he said.

"We have seen how the Bank has fulfilled its social responsibilities elsewhere and would want them to do same here on the KNUST campus."

Prof. Adarkwa noted that Universities had become global villages providing avenues for cross-fertilisation of knowledge and research programmes for the development of the people. He noted that Ghana was still lagging behind in terms of social development hence the collaboration between KNUST and GCB in that regard offered a real opportunity for intra-institutional engagements for their mutual benefit.

Prof. Adarkwa also appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to support its Students' Financial Services Office to advance the cause of needy but brilliant students who sought financial assistance for their education.