Express Capital targets savings and loans status

Express Capital Microfinance, one of the fastestgrowing indigenous microfinance companies in the country, says it’s aiming to be a savings and loans company by 2015.

The company, headquartered in Tesano, Accra,is now also in theTemametropolitan area to better serve the needs of its customers.

The Temabranch is sited at the Tema Community I market to serve market women, traders, and micro-businesses in the area.

The new branch forms part of the company’s strategic plan to meet the needs of the growing number its clients in the metropolis.

Chief Executive Officer Ben Adu-Owusu said:“We have targetted attaining a savings and loans status by the end of 2015. We are serving micro-businesses, which is why we are a purely credit-based company. We work with market women; we give them advice onhow to manage their businesses.”

He said the company offers competitive returns on its funds. “We are happy to say we are paying between 28-30 percent on the funds we are buying,” he said.

Mr. Adu-Owusualso touched on the issue of corporate governance as the keyto a successful business.

“It is not about personal gain or money. We have a very hands-on board. Management meets the board every month to brief them on how the business is being run,” he said.

“Typically, banks are going out there and telling people,‘save with usfor a month or three months before you become eligible for a loan’. That is not the case with us. We offer loans without you saving with us,” he said.

John Kumi, chairman of the board ofdirectors of the company, urged the staff to be committed to excellence and serve their customers whole-heartedly.

Express Capital intends to expand its branch network and introduce more innovative products in the coming months.

Its current products include Express Anidasoo Business Loan, designed for Smalland Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and valid for three months, and the NkabomBusiness Loan, designed for market people working at a singlelocation or dealing in similar goods.