Exim Bank is a locally established, privately owned commercial bank and was the first bank to offer international credit cards in Tanzania, as well as the first to offer mobile ATMs. The bank was also the first to provide special women’s programs in the country and the first to go international by establishing two subsidiary branches in Comoros. Exim has 16 branches throughout Tanzania and 29 ATMs, according to Ide.go.jp.
NMB is one of the largest commercial finance banks in the country, having helped businesses gain capital for years. Recently the bank made moves to appeal more to “mass market” by launching a line of MasterCard debit cards. Cards include the Titanium (targeting the middle class), and the World Rewards (targeting the “affluent” customers) says Microcapital.org. Customers who sign up for a card have access to NMB services like smartphone applications, Internet banking, and mobile banking. NMB has 170 branches and 600 ATMs in Tanzania.
National Bank of Commerce is one of the oldest and largest in Tanzania with 54 branches and six business centers located in retail centers and major towns across the country. The continent’s largest banking group, Absa Group Ltd., recently absorbed most of NBC, giving NBC clients more international access, according to MyDestination.com. Today Absa owns 55 percent of NBC.
Barclays in Tanzania was briefly a part of the National Bank of Commerce but has once again returned to the British multinational banking group Barclays. The bank has 22 branches and 41 ATMS in Tanzania, along with 400 employees and over 110,000 customers, says Deposits.rog. Barclays Africa Group has raised some concern because it owns a majority of two competing banks–the National Bank of Commerce in Tanzania and Barclays Bank Tanzania–and has plans to keep both open. According to a Barclays Africa representative who spoke to Bdlive.co.za, the banking group does not believe they are putting either business at risk with this decision.
Standard Chartered Bank in Tanzania has seven branches, over 20,000 customers and nearly 400 staff members at its headquarters. SCB was the first international bank to operate in the country after it gained independence. The bank was the first to offer ATMs in the country, establishing itself as a bank that, “creates convenience and accessibility for its customers” says Sc.com.
CRDB Bank has been private for over 20 years and as of 2016 became the largest financial institution in the country. The bank recently celebrated 20 years of privatization through some donations to institutions–mainly education-based ones. The bank has 198 branches and as of this year boasts over $60 million in profit since opening, says Allafrica.com.
Citibank enjoyed rapid growth in Tanzania recently, multiplying its assets by 18 between opening its doors in 1995 and 2012. The bank has over $70 million in assets and has been a leader in arranging high-profile corporate finance deals, according to Tzexchange.blogspot.com. The bank was also the first in Tanzania to automate TISS payments.
In 2016, Twiga Bank put aside millions of dollars to lend to entrepreneurs in villages, boosting economic activities in the country. The program will offer special training workshops for entrepreneurs, as well as tricycles and motorcycles for people to commute to work and perpetuate their business. To date over 200 groups with bank accounts at Twiga have received loans, says Allafrica.com.
