Rusizi District officials and residents have expressed appreciation for the development achieved over the past 50 years with the support of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, which emerged from the merger of Banque Populaire and KCB Bank Rwanda.
The appreciation was voiced on June 19, 2025, during an evening celebration that brought together the management of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc and its clients from Rusizi and Nyamasheke Districts.
The gathering celebrated the milestones the bank has achieved in its 50 years of existence and served as a platform for exchanging ideas on priorities for the future.
The districts of Rusizi and Nyamasheke are home to professional farmers and many cross-border traders who have been actively engaged in business for years.
When the bank was established in 1975, residents quickly began using its services due to concerns over the safety of their money. The bank also helped boost their capital through the provision of loans.
Nsengiyumva Innocent, who spoke on behalf of the clients in Rusizi, commended BPR Bank Plc for supporting the development of rice farming in Bugarama Valley, which spans more than five of the district’s 18 sectors.
“We appreciate the special loans offered to farmers, especially rice growers in Bugarama Valley. We also value the bank’s technology, which enables us to access fast services. Business moves quickly, like grabbing an opportunity while it’s still hot. Please continue offering us quick and efficient services,” he said.
Umulisa Yvette praised the idea of client appreciation events, noting that during a previous gathering in Rusizi in 2023, they had requested a special loan scheme for women, and the bank responded.
“I saw that you introduced a program called ‘Ikamba’ which trains women and girls in project planning and management, and even offers loans without collateral. We thank you for that,” she said.
The MD of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, Patience Mutesi, underscored the event was organized to appreciate the loyalty and support that clients have shown the bank over the past 50 years.
“The Western Province, especially Rusizi District, holds a special place in our history. This district has played a key role in economic development and is home to some of our most loyal clients who have supported us for a long time,” she noted.
Mutesi emphasized that BPR Bank is proud to have contributed to Rusizi’s development through university sponsorships, support for the rice value chain from farmers to processing industries, and financing cross-border small businesses.
“We identified potential in small cross-border traders and offered them loans that helped them grow. We will continue investing in this region so that Rusizi can achieve even greater progress in the years to come,” she added.
The Mayor of Rusizi District, Sindayiheba Phanuel, noted that BPR Bank Rwanda Plc was among the first banks to be established in what used to be the Cyangugu Prefecture, now known as Rusizi and Nyamasheke Districts.
“It’s clear that the bank played a major role in increasing private sector investment. It was among the first banks to operate here and served both large and small-scale businesspeople,” he said.
BPR Bank Rwanda Plc assured its clients in Rusizi that it will continue to promote digital banking services to offer fast and quality service, and it pledged to increase its representation in commercial centers where it does not yet operate.
