Amantin and Kasei Community Bank, based in Amantin in the Bono East Region, plans to expand financing for agribusiness in 2026, targeting key players across the agricultural value chain as part of efforts to support rural economic growth.
The lender has earmarked more than GH¢21.19 million for loans to about 1,000 agribusiness operators, representing roughly 15 per cent of its projected GH¢140 million loan portfolio for the year.
Beneficiaries are expected to include smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, agro-input suppliers, produce aggregators and traders, agro-processors, as well as logistics and warehouse operators. Lending will focus on major value chains such as maize, rice and cowpea, cassava and yam, livestock and horticultural crops.
The initiative is intended to improve access to finance for agricultural entrepreneurs in the bank’s operating areas, where many small-scale producers and traders struggle to obtain credit for production and marketing activities.
The Chief Executive Officer, Michael Wilberforce Osae, said the strategy aligns with the bank’s objective of supporting local economic development while improving its financial performance. The institution is targeting a profit of GH¢16 million in 2026.
According to him, the bank has expanded its lending activities while maintaining strict credit risk management.
We are strengthening our loan portfolio by supporting SMEs, farmers and salaried workers under rigorous credit assessment procedures,” Mr. Osae said, adding that the bank is prioritising sectors with reliable repayment capacity while stepping up monitoring and recovery efforts to contain non-performing loans.
Alongside its lending expansion, the bank is seeking to grow its funding base through what the CEO described as an aggressive deposit mobilisation campaign, with a target of GH¢195 million in deposits.
To support the effort, the lender is scaling up digital and mobile banking services, including GhanaPay and USSD-based platforms, aimed at improving customer access and convenience.
Osae said investments in digital systems are helping the bank transition from largely manual, branch-driven operations to automated and real-time banking services.
The upgrades are expected to enhance operational efficiency, cut costs and strengthen regulatory compliance while broadening financial inclusion, particularly in rural communities, though infrastructure constraints remain a challenge.
The bank is also aiming to increase its asset base to GH¢244.6 million by the end of the year. Growth will be driven by expanded lending to microfinance clients, agricultural businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside a larger investment portfolio and improved liquidity management.
Osae said the institution is also working to strengthen its brand presence within its operating areas as it seeks to consolidate its position as a community-focused financial institution.
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