The Afram Community Bank (ACB) recorded a profit of GH¢664,606.00 in 2018 as against GH¢691,014.00 in 2017, a decrease of 3.8 per cent.
The drop is attributed to unstable economic challenges during the period under review.
However, the bank grew its income from GH¢2,848,807 in 2017 to GH¢3,804,996, representing an increase of 33.5 per cent in the financial year under review.
Its liability on customers’ deposits also moved up from GH¢11,143,275 in 2017 to GH¢15,800,820 in 2018, representing 41.79 per cent rise.
In addition, loans and advances of the bank grew from GH¢8,410,637 in 2017 to GH¢14,875,798 in 2018, representing an increase of 76.8 per cent.
Mr Jeffery Konadu Addo, the Chairman of ACB Board of Directors, made this known during the bank’s 36th annual general meeting at Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region.
He described the bank’s microfinance division as the soul of its operations, adding that, despite recording some defaulters in their operational area, it had been able to make headway.
Mr Addo said the bank had exceeded Bank of Ghana’s minimum capital requirement by GH¢536,287.00 and, therefore, was doing all it could to meet up with any possible increment in future.
In line with ACB’s corporate social responsibility, it supported the Kwahu Afram Plains South District Assembly to rehabilitate the Ekye-Sekeyere road.
It also provided logistics to the Ghana Police Service in Tease and Donkorkrom and assisted Kwahu Afram Plains Education Service and Health Directorate in diverse ways to boost their operations.
Mr Addo said it also supported Water Board, a non-governmental organisation, to provide potable water for Maame-Krobo and Donkorkrom to address water shortages in the communities.
Mr Kojo Mattah, the Managing Director of ARP Apex Bank Limited, commended the ACB for ensuring that inspite of the unstable economy it was able to make profit.
He spoke on the need for rural community banks to tighten their internal control process to prevent unscrupulous persons from exploiting them.
He urged the directors to abide by BoG’s directives in granting loans to serving directors.
Officials of the bank were entreated to deploy technology in their activities to drive their products, services and processes as done in the contemporary banking industry. GNA
