Assin Praso (C/R) Oct 29, GNA - A Deputy Chief Manager of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Kwame Sarpong Osei-Bonsu, has appealed to personnel of rural/community banks to encourage more people to do business with financial institutions.

He said in spite of the enormous potentials of many rural communities, many people are yet to benefit from banking services. Mr Osei-Bonsu said this when he addressed the 19th annual general meeting of the Akoti Rural Bank at Assin Praso.

He called on directors of such banks to keep shareholders abreast with the activities of their institutions to avoid misconceptions. Mr Theophilus Obeng, Micro-Finance Officer of the ARB Apex Bank, said since its establishment last year, the APEX Bank has developed and printed chequebooks for rural customers and would start training staff of rural banks.

It is also arranging to supply cash to the doorsteps of rural banks with bullion vans to facilitate the purchase of cocoa using Akuafo cheques.

He said the Apex Bank is planning with the Produce Buying Company to channel funds to the rural and community banks through it.