News:

World Bank partners with Centenary Bank to finance agriculture

Centenary Bank’s MD Fabian Kasi and World Bank’s Acting Country Manager, Kapil Kapoor at the launch of the Agriculture Finance Support Facility (AgriFin) program

12, July 2011

Centenary Bank in partnership with World Bank have launched the Agriculture Finance Support Facility (AgriFin) project to improve Centenary Bank’s capacity to finance agriculture on 12, July 2011.The $2.1 million project will see Centenary Bank train staff, create five new service centres in rural areas and also reinforce key systems such as agricultural risk management in order to manage agricultural financing better.

Kapil Kapoor, Acting World Bank Uganda Country Manager said, ‘I am glad that we are partnering with a farmer oriented Bank to implement this program’. Agrifin’s goal is to assist financial institutions improve and expand their services to commercial smallholder farmers and SMEs by building the institutions’ capacity and systems.

Fabian Kasi, Centenary Bank Managing Director said, ‘the project will grow internal capacity ultimately benefitting over 30,000 farmers country wide in four years time.’

Centenary Bank in cancer fight

A nurse sensitizing some of the women who came for cancer screening

25, June 2011

Centenary Bank in partnership with Rotary D9200 and Nsambya hospital held a cancer community day at KCC’s Kisenyi health unit on 25, June 2011. The objective of the day was to screen ladies on breast and cervical cancer and sensitize them about early diagnosis and treatment options. The initiative is part of a wider campaign where a breast, cervical and prostate cancer ward will be built at Nsambya hospital and 12 community days held all over the country in 3 years. The day attracted over 115 women who were sensitized, 95 got tested, 3 were found positive with cancer cells and 8 were referred to Nsambya hospital for further check up. One of the ladies said, ‘Thank you for coming to our rescue, at least I now know my status’.

Rotary International President, Ray Kilingsmith receives a dummy cheque from the Bank’s MD, Fabian Kasi

22, April 2011, Centenary Bank has partnered with Rotary 9200 to build a cancer ward at Nsambya hospital. This was during the ‘Bridge the cancer’ campaign which was launched on the same day. The 3year campaign will not only set up the cancer ward at Nsambya but also have community days where people will be sensitized on cancer causes, get tested and counseled.  Studies have shown that Ugandans suffer most from cervical and breast cancers in women and prostate cancer in men which this new facility will handle.

During the launch of the cancer ward, Centenary Bank Managing Director, Fabian Kasi said ‘Centenary Bank is not only about making profit but also changing lives’. Stephen Mwanje, District Governor Rotary 9200 commended the Bank for contributing 30% of the total funds needed for the construction of the cancer ward. Upon completion the ward will be called ‘Centenary Bank Rotary Cancer ward’.

Centenary donates to Nakivubo Parkyard traders

Baker Kassaga and Christopher Tamale of Nakivubo Parkyard receive a cheque from Centenary Bank’s Allen Ayebare and Rita Magezi.

2, June 2011

Centenary Bank handed over a cheque worth 5m to Nakivubo Parkyard traders on 2, June 2011. This was a balance of 10 million pledged when the traders lost their goods in an inferno that gutted the market in 2009.

Centenary donates to Katende Parish

Mr. Fabian Kasi hands over a cheque to the head of laity Katende parish, Paul Kilabila

29, May 2011

Centenary Bank contributed UGX 5M to the renovation of the Katende Parish Priests’ house of residence and office on 29, May 2011. This follows the disaster of a fire that struck Katende Parish Priests house leaving the entire building in ruins.

Centenary Bank gets moving branch

The Cente Mobile Branch

16, June 2011

The USAID Lead project handed over a mobile van to Centenary Bank. The van will work as a mobile banking branch, taking financial services closer to the people of Nwoya, Amuru, Pabbo, Attiak, Bibia, Opit, Minakulu, Kamdini, Bweyale in Amuru and Amolatar districts. The USAID project is part of the peace, recovery and development program to the northern region of the country.

Centenary Bank takes services to Koboko, Isingiro and Kumi

Customers open accounts during the Isingiro service centre launch

Centenary Bank has added three more service centres to its network. Koboko, Isingiro and Kumi opened in April, May and June 2011 respectively. This brings the total number of Centenary Bank’s networked branches countrywide to 42 and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) to 83.

Centenary Bank meets its customers

Branch Manager, Patrick Twinamatsiko addresses customers who turned up for the Ibanda branch customer day.

23, June, 2011- Mubende Customer day, 20, May 2011 – Ibanda Customer Day, 19, May 2011 – Ishaka Customer day, 05 May 2011 – Wobulenzi Customer day

Customer days are a vital aspect of Centenary Bank’s customer retention strategy. They provide a platform for the Bank to have direct contact with customers. This contact provides an opportunity for feedback and information on how the bank’s products and services are being received. The Bank then uses this information to review its operations with a view of serving its customers better.

7, April, 2011. Gulu Customer day, 13, April 2011 – Ntungamo Customer Day, 14, April 2011 – Mbarara Customer day

Customer days are a vital aspect of Centenary Bank’s customer retention strategy. They provide a platform for the Bank to have direct contact with customers. This contact provides an opportunity for feedback and information on how the bank’s products and services are being received. The Bank then uses this information to review its operations with a view of serving its customers better.

Centenary Bank meets its customers

Branch Manager, Patrick Twinamatsiko addresses customers who turned up for the Ibanda branch customer day.

23, June, 2011- Mubende Customer day, 20, May 2011 – Ibanda Customer Day, 19, May 2011 – Ishaka Customer day, 05 May 2011 – Wobulenzi Customer day

Customer days are a vital aspect of Centenary Bank’s customer retention strategy. They provide a platform for the Bank to have direct contact with customers. This contact provides an opportunity for feedback and information on how the bank’s products and services are being received. The Bank then uses this information to review its operations with a view of serving its customers better.

7, April, 2011. Gulu Customer day, 13, April 2011 – Ntungamo Customer Day, 14, April 2011 – Mbarara Customer day

Customer days are a vital aspect of Centenary Bank’s customer retention strategy. They provide a platform for the Bank to have direct contact with customers. This contact provides an opportunity for feedback and information on how the bank’s products and services are being received. The Bank then uses this information to review its operations with a view of serving its customers better.

Centenary Bank takes services to Kanungu district.

Apollo Obbo, the Director, Bank of Uganda opens Centenary Bank, Kanungu

12, April 2011, Centenary Bank has opened its 39th branch in Kanungu district.

The chairman board of directors said Centenary Bank had extended its services to Kanungu to help finance Agriculture. “We have products like Agricultural loans, Animal Traction loan, Veterinary Association loan and farm implements leasing”.  

The Director, Bank of Uganda Mr. Apollo Obbo commended Centenary Bank for pioneering the drive to extend Agricultural and commercial banking services to the rural areas.

The district is known for the production of tobacco and tea in Uganda. In addition food crops like Bananas, Maize, Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Coffee and Sorghum.

Financial literacy in Lira

Participants at the Lira financial literacy session

The training was attended by 200 participants. Majority requested for further training in record keeping and budgeting. Centenary bank together with PSFU are making arrangements to have another phase of training which will further equip participants with knowledge of handling the above.  

Centenary Bank in Cancer fight

A nurse sensitizing some of the women who came for cancer screening

25, June 2011

Centenary Bank in partnership with Rotary D9200 and Nsambya hospital held a cancer community day at KCC’s Kisenyi health unit on 25, June 2011. The objective of the day was to screen ladies on breast and cervical cancer and sensitize them about early diagnosis and treatment options. The initiative is part of a wider campaign where a breast, cervical and prostate cancer ward will be built at Nsambya hospital and 12 community days held all over the country in 3 years. The day attracted over 115 women who were sensitized, 95 got tested, 3 were found positive with cancer cells and 8 were referred to Nsambya hospital for further check up. One of the ladies said, ‘Thank you for coming to our rescue, at least I now know my status’.

Rotary International President, Ray Kilingsmith receives a dummy cheque from the Bank’s MD, Fabian Kasi

22, April 2011, Centenary Bank has partnered with Rotary 9200 to build a cancer ward at Nsambya hospital. This was during the ‘Bridge the cancer’ campaign which was launched on the same day. The 3year campaign will not only set up the cancer ward at Nsambya but also have community days where people will be sensitized on cancer causes, get tested and counseled.  Studies have shown that Ugandans suffer most from cervical and breast cancers in women and prostate cancer in men which this new facility will handle.

During the launch of the cancer ward, Centenary Bank Managing Director, Fabian Kasi said ‘Centenary Bank is not only about making profit but also changing lives’. Stephen Mwanje, District Governor Rotary 9200 commended the Bank for contributing 30% of the total funds needed for the construction of the cancer ward. Upon completion the ward will be called ‘Centenary Bank Rotary Cancer ward’.

Financial literacy launch

PSFU’s Gideon Bagadawa & Centenary Bank’s Fabian Kasi at the financial literacy press launch

5, April 2011, Private Sector Foundation (PSFU) has partnered with Centenary Bank to provide financial literacy to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) around the country. The training which will take place in Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, Arua and Kampala is meant to impart skills to entrepreneurs. This will enable them to optimize the available financial services and run their businesses better and profitably.

In explaining why the bank is participating in Financial Literacy, Centenary Bank Managing Director Fabian Kasi said “We have realized that most businesses in this country never live to see their first anniversary. This is due to poor finance management, budgeting and book keeping skills’ we believe the training will address those issues.  

PSFU Executive Director Mr. Gideon Bagadawa said by September 2011 the project will have trained over 1,000 SMEs.

Centenary Bank now offer DSTV loan

16, March 2011. Centenary Bank brings you yet a new and exciting product, the DSTV Cente loan. This was announced at a joint press conference with multichoice Uganda at Sheraton hotel, Forest hall.

The product specially designed to give Ugandan television viewers the opportunity to enjoy DStv’s world class entertainment can be got starting from as little as 39,000 UGX a month. The customer can immediately get a fully installed DStv set with the DStv Access bouquet for a year. This includes Installation costs, monthly subscription fee and Bank interest charges.See table below for detailed pricing.

DSTV Cente Loan Bouquet pricing and re-payment schedule

Bouquet	DSTV Access	DSTV Family	DSTV Compact	DSTV Compact Plus	DSTV Premium
Total Loan amount	416,500	686,000	901,600	1,440,600	2,249,100
Cost of DSTV kit	147,000	147,000	147,000	147,000	147,000
Annual subscriptions	269,500	539,000	754,600	1,293,600	2,102,100
Monthly loan installment for 1 year	39,000	64,500	85,000	135,500	211,500

This loan is available to both Centenary Bank customers and non customers and can be accessed with either the salary loan and microfinance loan.

Centeway launch in branches

11, February 2011. In an effort to serve customers better, Centenary Bank has launched an inhouse campaign called ‘Centeway’. This is a campaign where we seek to improve service delivery through superior customer service, integrity, team work, leadership, Professionalism, competence and excellence.

The campaign which will run for the whole year will see our customers get better service. “We are working to retain the existing customers and also bring on new ones on board,” the MD, Fabian Kasi commented.

Centenary Bank partners with NWSC to ease water payments.

17, February, 2011. Water payment has been made even easier at Centenary Bank. This was announced at the Bank’s head office, Talenta house Entebbe road.

Mr. Fabian Kasi, Centenary Bank Managing Director said, “One simply walks into any branch and presents their water bill with cash. The teller posts the money on the NWSC account and the NWSC customer’s account is updated immediately. The client gets an instant sms onto their phone confirming the transaction on their NWSC account”.

This free service which is open to both clients and non clients of Centenary bank is part of the bank’s strategy this year meant to increase services to the public”.

This service can be accessed in all our 39 networked branches across the country.

Najjanankumbi and Kikuubo openings

10, February 2011, Centenary Bank today opened its doors to the communities of Najjanakumbi and Kikuubo.

The two are the first of Centenary Bank’s serving outlets which we are calling service centres. The service centre concept has been adopted to improve on our outreach and extend services closer to our customers.

Mr. Alex Kasibante, centre manager, Kikuubo says the opening of Kikuubo has saved the business community from transporting their proceeds to other branches in the midst of congestion.

According to the Najjanankumbi Manager, Ms Florence Nshekanabo, the centre is already full and plans are already underway for expansion. “We so far have 454 accounts with a deposit base of UGX 230,970,538 only”.

The Bank will open 9 more service centres before the end of this year