Over 500 bright students from poor families in Isiolo County have benefitted from the ‘Wings to Fly’ programme since the bank started sponsoring needy students in Kenya 14 years ago. Isiolo Equity Branch Manager Mr. Ibrae Ali said that the 535 beneficiaries comprise 257 boys and 278 girls.
Mr. Ali added that every year the bank sponsors bright students from poor families who are identified and vetted by a team of personnel from the financial institution, education ministry and the local chiefs.
The manager said that the Bank ploughs back to wananchi the small profit earned from trading with the customers with a view to promote education standards. Mr. Ali who was addressing staff and customers at the bank at the end of marking this year’s customer service week urged women groups, youth and people living with disabilities to seek loans from the Bank to empower themselves financially.
Isiolo Equity Bank Branch Manager Mr. Ibrae Ali addressing branch staff and guests during the marking of the Customer Service Week
Speaking at the same occasion, a prominent businessman and farmer Mr. Elema Fila said that Equity bank had taken financial services closer to the pastoralist communities after opening five branches in upper eastern region adding the local people no longer keep money in the houses or even carry cash with them as did previously.
Mr. Fila said that the bank has given scholarships to students to further their education even out of the country. He lauded the bank’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi for making Equity the institution people can trust with their money and the gesture to give back to the communities they work with.
The farmer urged Isiolo people and pastoralist communities to bank money with equity since it is in safe hands and also where quick service is rendered.