Beyond the branch: Growth of agent banking

Pebuu chief executive officer John Ssemyalo.

How has agent banking performed in Uganda so far? Since we began this journey five years ago with Stanbic as our client, we have observed significant challenges in the agent banking space. For instance, while a financial institution might claim to have a portfolio of 5,000 agents, the real question is how many of these agents are actively transacting. We focus on being present with these bank agents, addressing their issues in real-time, and collaborating with our partner financial institutions to resolve these challenges.

Our nationwide support for banks has reduced inactivity levels among agents.

How many institutions have adopted agent banking, and what insights can we glean regarding adoption levels? Currently, every commercial bank in Uganda has established an agent banking channel, with ABC serving as the central hub. However, the major players must manage their own platforms.