Interbank Burundi s.a.

Opening of an Interbank Burundi Counter at Novotel Hotel in Bujumbura.

In the framework of the new turning point of our distribution policy, notably the creation of branches and counters at working sites, that we presented in our last release, Interbank Burundi has just opened a banking counter fully operating at Novotel Hotel some three weeks after the inauguration of Bujumbura Port Branch.

A policy designed in 1993, at the birth of the Bank, together with the establishment of a banking counter at BRARUDI (Burundi Breweries Company), the collection activity at home is an integral part of our distribution strategy and contributes strongly to upraise the level of our attendance to our clientele.

Among the traditional beneficiaries of such services are ONATEL (National Telecommunications Company), OTB (Burundi Tea Board), REGIDESO (Water and Electricity Distribution Company), ENGEN, LU-DECOR, AIR BURUNDI, COTEBU (Bujumbura Textile Company) as well as NOVOTEL, a hotel where the regularity and the amounts of collections have prompted the need to establish a fully operating banking counter on the site.

1. Why to establish a counter at Novotel Hotel ?

On a tourist market however less developed because of the crisis, Novotel Hotel is the most busy of Bujumbura with an occupation rate of about 40 %.

Being the 1st Hotel with international Standards, it drains therefore the essential tourist resources of the country.

It seemed to us that it was judicious to establish a banking counter in Novotel Hotel in view of the current political and economic developments which herald a wide resumption of the international financial co-operation as well as the related technical assistance ; in such a way that travels and business missions to Bujumbura should increase, for the great benefit of hotels in the capital, and more particularly Novotel Hotel.

Beyond those tourist resources, the establishment of a banking counter in that Hotel targets a proximity clientele composed of daily burundian visitors and trades around and will undoubtedly contribute to the prestigious image of the Bank.

2. Assessment.

Two weeks after its opening, the Novotel counter has already recorded :

a maximum daily collection of 10 M all currencies together
and daily withdrawals amounting to about 6 M

An activity which should grow up with the resumption of travels and business missions to Burundi and the economic activity in general.

3. Supervision of the counter

Since it was opened, the Novotel counter is run by Mrs Jocelyne TWIZIGIRE, an intermediate officer enjoying a long standing experience in banking operations, previously working in the International banking Department, in the Clientele Department in her capacity as Reception Officer and at the Central Market Branch with the position of Visa Officer.

Aged 35, Mrs Jocelyne TWIZIGIRE is married and mother of 2 kids.

IBB-Infos / 20 mars 2003

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