FNB CEO notes zambia's Agricultural Sector Biggest Employer Even Though It Is Mainly On A Subsistence Level

First National Bank (Fnb)-Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Sarel Van Zyl Has Noted That The Agricultural Sector Is Zambia’s Biggest Employer Even Though It Is Mainly On A Subsistence Level.

Mr. Van Zyl Says His Institution Is Working Closely With Other Stakeholders In The Market To Find Solutions To Assist Small Scale Farmers Who May Not Qualify For The Traditional Collateral That May Be A Requirement For Obtaining Loans.
He Says As Banks, There Is Need To Strive To Assist The Agriculture Sector To Access The Main Stream Banking Previously Only Enjoyed By Well Established Businesses With Collateral.
Mr. Van Zyl Says Banks Can Only Build On Today’s Prosperity When They Have The Majority Of Their People Included In The Financial Offerings Of Banks.
Mr. Van Zyl Said This When Fnb Hosted A Luncheon For The Vice President Dr Guy Scot.
First National Bank Is A Subsidiary Of The First Rand Group And Started Operations In Zambia In April 2009 And Has Since Established Nine Branches, Has 41 Atms And Employs 279 Staff Members.
The Bank Says It Is Committed To Continued Growth With The Intent To Have 14 Branches By 2014. 
In Line With This, To Days Ago, The Bank Opened Its Mkushi Branch, Which Now Enables Fnb To Provide Banking Services To The Bigger Farming Areas Of Serenje, Mkushi And Kabwe, As Well As To The Southern Province Through Its Branch In Mazabuka.
In Its 3 Years In Zambia, Fnb Has Launched Some Very Innovative Products On The Local Market With Great Success And These Include Sme, Agribusiness, The E-Wallet, Bank-In-A-Bag, Home Loans And Vehicle And Asset Finance.