GTI Microfinance pledges to drive SMEs with funds, services
GTI Microfinance Bank says it will provide adequate financial support for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
The Lagos-based microfinance bank also vows to offer financial services that can drive the growth of MSMEs in the country, in line with its commitment to promote the development of this category of business.
Tolulope Opayinka, managing director, GTI Microfinance Bank, who spoke at the bank’s 2016 Customer Forum which was held in Lagos at its corporate head office in Marina recently, said GTI was strategically placed to promote economic growth through financial inclusion, drivingthe micro sub-sector of the economy with its products and services designed basically for individuals, groups/associations and SMEs.
According to Opayinka, micro financial services was key in the fight against poverty as they would financially empower entrepreneurs and bring financial services to the unbanked.
She said the bank had conceived and developed products and services to meet all business and banking requirements of MSMEs, including savings account, current account, fixed deposit account, loans and advances, electronic fund transfer (EFT), card services, business advisory, planning services and safe custody.
She urged individuals, businesses and trade associations to cultivate the habit of savings and investments in order to grow their wealth and ensure a secured tomorrow for themselves and their businesses, while assuring prospective investors and customers that the bank was adequately capitalised to meet the financial needs of customers.
The managing director added that besides strategic locations across Lagos State, the microfinance bank had developed correspondent banking relationships with a number of commercial banks which would allow customers to make deposits through the widespread branches of these commercial banks.
Opayinka further explained that GTI Microfinance Bank catered to the interests of a large segment of the unbanked and under-banked population, including barbers, hairdressers, food vendors, mechanics, traders, tailors, shoemakers, photographers and plumbers, stating that the requirements for accessing loans at GTI Microfinance Bank were easy and the bank usually attended to customers’ loan requests expeditiously.
Dandy Benjamin, group chairman, 414 Business Group, a customer of the bank, said GTI had proven to be competitive and able to meet the financial needs of his business.
In his remarks, Osita Jimbers of Joimtec Nigeria Limited, said his company had had a good banking experience with GTI Microfinance Bank.
GTI Microfinance Bank Limited is a registered Microfinance bank with state-wide license for Lagos State. The bank is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and insured by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). It has four offices in Lagos including Tinubu Street; Central Business District, Marina; Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja; Olosha Bus stop, Mushin, and Abattoir Market, Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos.
ODINAKA ANUDU