FIDELITY Bank To Launch �Fidelity Business Academy�

Building Knowledge & Capacity Through The Fidelity Business Academy

In Ghana, like the rest of the world, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises represent a substantial proportion of all economic activity. They also account for over 50% of total employment in the country. Current economic trends in Ghana suggest that SME�s are becoming more exposed to opportunities to expand and diversify across many sectors and regions.

Fidelity Bank strongly believes in supporting good quality small and medium enterprises and enabling them grow into the country�s next large corporate entities.

However, to enable SMEs achieve their full potential there are some obvious barriers they need to overcome. These are in the form of challenges around structured governance, internal financial practices and access to funding, and managerial capacity, among others. As a result Fidelity Bank is launching the Fidelity Business Academy, which has the main aim of building capacity for the Bank�s SME customers through formalised training, educational seminars, and networking events.

Julian Opuni, Head of Commercial Banking at Fidelity Bank, remarked: �We are committed to helping our SME customers deal proactively with their business challenges. The Fidelity Business Academy will create access to sound business practices for these companies.�

The first of such capacity building events under this initiative is a series of 2-day courses, which will build knowledge around proper business records, simple book keeping tools, cash flow management and marketing strategies. The course is accredited by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and is being delivered in partnership with Rainbow Consultancy. Certificates will be presented to the participants on completion of the course.

As a mark of its commitment, Fidelity Bank will continue with this initiative of supporting its SME customers for the foreseeable future.

About Fidelity Bank Ghana

Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited is a nationwide, universal bank, with 45 branches across 9 out of the 10 regions in Ghana, with a customer base of almost 400,000, and employing about 1,500 people. Fidelity Bank Ghana began operations in 2006, after 8 successful years as a discount house.

Now in its seventh year of operations as a bank, Fidelity has emerged as a major player on the local banking landscape, and is arguably the fastest growing bank in Ghana.

The Bank has been recognized as the Best Growing Bank in three of the last six years.

Source: Corporate Communications, Fidelity Bank