AB Bank Rwanda (AB Bank) is committed to the development of the Rwandan financial sector by rendering accessible services to the people and their communities, with excellent quality standards.
AB Bank at a Glance
Facts & Figures
Our bank is proud to support thousands of businesses in Rwanda, and we are still growing!
5
Open Branches
15
Credit Outlets
12,500 +
Businesses Supported
34,000 +
Loans Provided
40,000 +
Active Clients
40%
of our Clients are from Rural Areas
46%
of our Employees are Female
Our History
In January 2014, AB Bank opened its doors to the public with the first branch in Nyamirambo. In that same year, the bank opened 2 other branches at Nyarugenge and Gisozi in Kigali City.
In 2015, AB Bank opened its fourth branch at Kimironko in Kigali City.
In July 2016, AB Bank opened its fifth branch, also the first upcountry branch located in Musanze, covering the northern part of the country. The Musanze branch is our flagship branch for rural finance.
In 2017, the bank introduced new segments of business loans including super micro loans (between RWF 5-25 million) and SME loans (Above RWF 25 million).
In 2018, AB Bank opened the 6th branch at Nyabugogo in Kigali City, and 3 credit outlets in Muhanga, Rwamagana and Kabarondo.
In 2019, AB Bank opened 3 additional credit outlets in Nyagatare, Gicumbi and Huye, for a total of 6 credit outlets opened in upcountry urban centers.
In 2020, AB Bank continued its geographical expansion with 9 credit outlets in Kamonyi, Nyamata, Kabarore, Nyanza, Ruhango, Rubavu, Nyamagabe, Karongi and Rusizi. During the same year, the Bank launched AB IBAKWE, a transactional Push & Pull service in partnership with MTN Rwanda. The bank also introduced new bancassurance products and agro loan products financing the agriculture value chains.
In 2021, the bank launched a fully-fledged contact center solution, a chatbot solution, and is currently exploring new digital solutions to enhance its service reach and contribute more to the efficiency and productivity of the served clientele.
AB Bank Rwanda is a socially responsible bank and the bank of choice for micro and small enterprises. It strives to be the leading provider of financial services in this market segment in Rwanda. Business loans, which are primarily based on the assessment of the borrower’s repayment capacity, are the core product of the Bank. ABR builds-up long-term business relationships with customers based on responsibility and mutual respect. In doing so, it promotes a savings culture and supports borrowers to build-up a sound credit history.
Values & Approach
Being conscious of our responsibility as a lender in the microfinance sphere, we put significant efforts in treating our clients fairly, and transparently safeguarding their financial soundness and sustainability. In order to prevent over-indebtedness, we aim to build long-term relationships with our clients, conducting a thorough analysis of their payment capacities and tailoring loan products to suit their needs, while ensuring financing is made available in a timely manner.
AB Bank Rwanda endorses the SMART Campaign fostering its seven key principles for responsible lending and customer protection:
Appropriate product design and delivery channels which are tailored to the specific needs of the bank’s target clientele – micro entrepreneurs in the informal sector
Prevention of over-indebtedness by ensuring the credit process determines client’s repayment capacity without becoming over-indebted
Transparency in pricing and product terms and conditions
Responsible pricing which is affordable to clients and allowing for the institution’s sustainability
Fair and respectful treatment of clients safeguarding against discrimination, corruption and any kind of aggressive or abusive treatment by its staff and agents
Mechanisms for complaint resolution
Protection of client data by respecting the privacy of individual client data in accordance with the laws and regulations of the local jurisdiction
Board of Directors
Dianne Dusaidi
Chairperson
Ms. Dusaidi is a Program Manager at the Mastercard Foundation. Dedicated to the development of her homeland, Rwanda, and the African continent, Dusaidi has been involved in several high impacting programs ranging from group financing for financial inclusion to E-Commerce for women.
At Mastercard Foundation, she plays a major role in developing strategic partnerships to promote youth employment in the tourism sector.
Ms. Dusaidi holds a MBA in International Business from Maastricht School of Management and a bachelor in Public Administration and Governance from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.
Dianne joined AB BANK’s Board of Directors on September 2020.
Susan Mutoni
Board Member
Susan Mutoni is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA K &R), Practitioner and a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR). She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management majoring In Accounting from KIM University. She is currently an Audit Partner with RUMA Certified Public Accountants (RUMA CPA).
She has a diverse experience in Auditing, Accounting, financial reviews and other financial management-based consultancy services with distinct skills in UN HACT assessments and assurance activities, EU and USAID reviews. In 2019, Susan was elected executive member of RUMA CPA board of Directors Susan has worked with Cards from Africa (CFA) as head supervisor from November 2007 to December 2009.
Susan has gone under several professional development trainings by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) in different aspects of International Financial reporting standards (IFRS) and International standards on Auditing (ISA’s) and Tax forums.
Bernd Zattler
Board Member
Bernd Zattler joined the AB Bank Board of Directors in September 2018. He also serves as a member and chairman of some of the holding’s investees. In 1994, Mr. Zattler established the consulting firm LFS Advisory GmbH (former name LFS Financial Systems), the founding shareholder of AccessHolding.
His prior professional experience includes work for a multinational firm and other institutions engaged in development finance. Mr. Zattler holds a PhD in Economics and is fluent in German, English, French and Spanish.
Gregor Taistra
Board Member
Dr. Taistra holds a PhD from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt and is the Principal Project Manager at KFW Development Bank Germany.
He is a financial sector specialist with focus on financial policy, credit risk assessment, and microfinance; and was a shareholder representative for various types of microfinance funds. Currently, he is mainly involved in managing KfW projects in the field of decentralization in Central Africa.
Dr. Taistra Joined AB BANK RWANDA’s board of directors on September 2020 and has more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector.
Albert Kinuma
Board Member
Albert is currently the African Partnerships Lead at Segovia, a Fintech company based out of New York focusing on payments and international remittances.
In 2010, he launched the first mobile money deployment in Rwanda as the Head of MTN Mobile Money.
A former member of IFC (World Bank Group) where he was serving as a Digital Financial Services Specialist, Mr. Kinuma supported financial institutions to optimize their mobile money operations.
As Senior director at VISA Inc, Albert was in charge of MVISA the first interoperable branchless banking mobile solution in the world.
Management Team
Zachary Raymond
Chief Executive Officer
Zach joined AB Bank Rwanda as the CEO in September 2022. Prior to joining AB Bank Rwanda, Zach worked as Chief Business Officer for our sister institution, Access Microfinance Bank Tanzania, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
From 2012 to 2020, Zach worked in South Africa for The Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF), a pro-poor microfinance institution, where he served in various roles including General Manager. He earned an MBA from the University of Cape Town, among other professional certifications.
Joas Ndikumana
Chief Business Officer
Joas is currently the Chief Business Officer. He joined AB bank Rwanda in November 2013 and has served in different roles like Head of Business, Head of micro credit department, Deputy Head of Micro Department, Branch Manager, Group Leader and Client advisor.
Before joining AB Bank Rwanda, he worked in the education sector in the Rubavu district for four years.
Joas holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a First Class Honor Bachelor’s Degree in Management and he has pursued different Leadership and Management training programs, both local and international.
Celestin Karera
Chief Finance Officer
Celestin joined AB Bank Rwanda in July 2022 as Head of Finance.
Prior to joining AB Bank Rwanda, Mr. Celestin worked as Senior Manager-Financial reporting for 7 years at NCBA, and Chief Accountant for 5 years at Access Bank and Volcanoes Safaris Rwanda.
Celestin holds a master degree from the Jomo Kenyatta University and different certificates in Finance. He is pursuing CIFA(Certified Investment and Financial Analyst where is currently at
Intermediate level.
Joselyne Bivugire
Chief Risk Officer
Joselyne joined AB Bank Rwanda in 2013 and has occupied different positions such as Credit Back Officer, HO Business Back Officer, Compliance Officer and Head of Risk, prior to joining AB Bank Rwanda, Mrs. Joselyne worked as Head of IT section in CORAR Sa for six years.
Joselyne holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Accounting, and Bachelor’s degree in computer sciences, she also holds different certificates in Risk. She completed the cortication course in Risk to become the certified microfinance Expert from Frankfurt school of Finance and Management.
Shareholders
AccessHolding
AccessHolding is a public-private partnership established in 2016 with the aim to make equity investments in start-up and early stage MFI’s in developing and transitional countries.
KFW
KFW Development Bank is a member of KfwBankengruppe, a promotional bank under the ownership of the Federal Republic of Germany and its federal states.
International Finance Corporation
International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private sector arm of the World Bank, which creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. IFC fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to business and governments.
Corporate Responsibility
AB Bank seeks to be a good corporate citizen in all aspects of its operations and activities. We recognize the importance of CSR in managing social, economic and environmental issues.
To us, CSR is one way we seek to co-ordinate and manage practices to maximize positive social and economic contribution and minimize the environmental impacts of our business. Engagement with key clients, employees, community, environmental stakeholders, regulators, business partners, suppliers and our shareholders is central to our approach to CSR.
