Reliance Financial Services Company Limited has laid a foundation stone in Barra to construct a branch to meet the banking and funding needs of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs and businesses in Lower Nuimi and the whole of North Bank region.

Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, which took place on Friday, the Chief of Barra, Alhaji Taborah Manneh, gave a brief history of Barra, saying that the town was a business centre.

He added that Reliance has made a great achievement by establishing a bank in Barra.

“Reliance is a financial institution established by Gambians who are experts in financial business,” the Chief said. “These great sons of The Gambia have Gambians at heart. They want to contribute in the socio-economic development of the Gambian people.”

He added that even low-income earners could bank with Reliance, as the bank’s opening balance or deposit starts as low as D100.

“Reliance does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, that is why when you bank with Reliance, if you save D100 and want D300 loan you can get it; or if you save D1,000 and want D3,000 loan you can get it,” he explained.

He thanked the management of Reliance for establishing a branch in Barra and urged the people of NBD to come out in their large numbers to bank with Reliance for a brighter future.

In his speech on the occasion, the CEO of Reliance, Mr Baboucarr Khan, said Reliance are very proud of the people of Barra and the surrounding villages.

He said Reliance has come to help the people of NBD to properly manage their financial status and redeem themselves from abject poverty.

He advised the people of NBD to bank with Reliance. “ I have the hope that you will come in your large numbers to open accounts with Reliance as soon as possible,” he said, adding that once the construction of the bank is completed Reliance will commence full operation in the area.

The Manager of Reliance, Mr Ismaila Faal, who moderated the occasion, said that while they will be constructing the branch, they plan to set up a banking kiosk to keep financial transactions running.

Other speakers on the occasion included Hon. Cherno Cham, National Assembly Member for Lower Nuimi, and Mr Mamadou Marr, the Deputy Governor of NBD.