Banque Populaire du Rwanda SA
Private | |
Industry | Financial Services |
Founded | 1975 |
Headquarters | Kigali, Rwanda |
Key people |
Ben Christiaanse Chairman Ephraim Turahirwa Chief Executive Officer |
Products | Loans, Checking, Savings, Investments, Debit Cards |
Revenue | Aftertax:US$7.62 million (RWF:5.17 billion (2013) |
Total assets | US$232.3 million (RWF:157.44 billion) (2013) |
Number of employees | 1,477 (2014) |
Website | http://www.bpr.rw |
Banque Populaire du Rwanda SA (BPR), is a commercial bank in Rwanda and licensed by the National Bank of Rwanda, the national banking regulator.[1]
Overview
As of December 2013, BPR was a medium-sized financial services provider in Rwanda. Its total asset valuation was approximately US$232.3 million (RWF:157.44 billion). At that time, shareholding in the bank was valued at about US$20.3 million (RWF:13.8 billion).[2] The bank focused its lending to businesses in the agricultural sector. It employed 1,477 staff at that time.[3]
History
The origins of BPR can be traced back to 1975, when the first Banque Populaire was formed in the settlement of Nkamba, in the city of Kibungo, Eastern Province. Over the next ten years many other similar banks were founded around the country. In 1986, the various autonomous Banques Populaires formed an umbrella called the Union des Banques Populaires du Rwanda (UBPR). UBPR was operated as a cooperative bank.
In January 2008, following 33 years of experience in the Rwandan financial sector, UBPR was transformed from a cooperative bank into a commercial bank: Banque Populaire du Rwanda S.A.[4] In June 2008, Rabobank, the Dutch cooperative banking conglomerate, acquired 35 percent of the shares in BPR.[5][6] In July 2012, Visa Inc. certified the bank to issue visa-branded debit and credit cards.[7]
In January 2016, Atlas Mara completed its acquisition of a controlling stake of BPR after acquiring shares from existing shareholders and merging the bank with the commercial banking business that was spun off BRD.[8]
Ownership
As of January 2016 the bank's stock is owned by the following corporate entities:[8]
Rank | Name of Owner | Percentage Ownership |
---|---|---|
1 | Atlas Mara Limited | 62.0 |
2 | Rwanda Savings Cooperatives | 38.0 |
Total | 100.00 | |
Branch network
As of August 2009, Bank Populaire du Rwanda maintained a network of 25 full-service branches, including at the following locations: [9]
- Main Branch - Kigali
- BPF Branch - Kigali
- Kimironko Branch - Kimironko, Kigali
- Muhima Branch - Muhima, Kigali
- Rwezamenyo Branch – Rwezamenyo, Kigali
- Muhanga Branch - Muhanga, Southern Province
- Musanze Branch - Musanze, Northern Province
- Rusizi Branch - Rusizi, Western Province
- Gicumbi Branch - Gicumbi, Northern Province
- Rubavu Branch - Rubavu, Northern Province
- Ngoma Branch - Ngoma, Eastern Province
- Huye Branch - Huye, Southern Province
- Rwamagana Branch - Rwamagana, Eastern Province
- Karongi Branch - Karongi, Western Province
- Nyamagabe Branch - Nyamagabe, Southern Province
- Nyagatare Branch - Nyagatare, Eastern Province
- Bugesera Branch - Bugesera, Eastern Province
- Nyanza Branch - Nyanza, Southern Province
- Ngororero Branch - Ngororero, Western Province[10]
Governance
The activities of Bank of Kigali are supervised by a nine-member board of directors. The current chairman of the board is Ben Christiaanse.[11] The day-to-day affairs of the bank are managed by a six-member executive management team, led by Ephraim Turahirwa, the chief executive officer.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ BNR, . "List of Licensed Commercial Banks In Rwanda" (PDF). National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ BPR, . (6 June 2014). "BPR 2013 Annual Report" (PDF). Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ RB, . (2014). "Profile of Banque Populaire du Rwanda". Rabobank (RB). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ BPR, . (2014). "History of Banque Populaire du Rwanda". Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ Magyambere, Gertrude (13 June 2008). "Rwanda: Dutch Bank Invests RWF6.5 Billion Into BPR". New Times (Rwanda) via AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ The Administrator, . (1 November 2012). "The Profit Puzzle" (PDF). The Independent (Uganda). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ Nyesiga, Dias (30 July 2012). "BPR Gets Visa Certification". New Times (Rwanda) via AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- 1 2 "ATLAS Mara Limited: Completion of BPR Acquisition". Yahoo!. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ Saul Butera, and Ruth Kang'ong'oi (7 August 2009). "Rwanda: BPR in On-Line Harmonisation of Local Branches". New Times (Rwanda). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ BPR Maintains Branch In Ngororero
- ↑ BPR, . (2014). "BPR Board of Directors". Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ↑ BPR, . (2014). "The Executive Staff At BPR". Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR). Retrieved 30 April 2015.
External links
- Website of Banque Populaire du Rwanda
- A Brief On Rwanda’s Financial Sector As Gathered By Ecobank - 24 June 2013
- Rwanda: About 415,300 Shareholders Could Lose Stake In Bank Populaire
- Atlas Mara completes acquisition of second Rwandan bank
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