SAHEL Sahara Bank has opened its 12th branch at Achimota in Accra as part of measures by the bank to bring banking to the doorstep of its customers.

The move is also intended to match competition in the banking industry as far as the spread of banks is concerned.

The Managing Director of the bank, Mr Robert Kow Bentil, said the bank was spreading its branch networks across the country in a strategic manner to enable it serve customers better. He added that “it is also to attract new customers to do business with us”.

He hinted that the bank was planning to open three more branches by next year to move the number of branches to 15.

About the performance of the bank, Mr Bentil said, “Sahel Sahara Bank Ghana’s operating income grew from GH¢2.9 million in 2008, to GH¢10.3 million in June this year; Deposits also rose from GH¢5 million in 2008 to GH¢81 million by June this year”.

He added that the bank’s total assets also rose from the 2008 figure of GH¢1.9 million to GH¢123.6 million in June 2012 while loans and advances increased from GH¢2.2 million in 2008 to GH¢53.4 million in June this year.

“In 2008, the bank recorded a loss of GH¢1.6 million. However, by June this year we had broken even and made a profit of GH¢2.6 million,” he said.

He attributed the bank’s success to the commitment of its staff and further called on them to continue to do more.

The Sahel-Sahara Bank, which was inaugurated in March 2008, is owned by the 26-member Community of Sahel-Saharienne States of Africa (CEN-SAD) of which Ghana is a member.

The bank operates in some of the 26-member Community of Sahel-Saharienne States of Africa (CEN-SAD) including Ghana.