Urwego Opportunity Bank
Encyclopedia
Urwego Opportunity Bank is a commercial bank
in Rwanda. The bank is one of the ten (10) licensed commercial bank
s in the Republic of Rwanda.
, an international microfinance network dedicated to the development of transformational, commercial microfinance banks in developing countries.
and spiritual conditions of the communities that the bank serves. The bank focuses on serving Rwandans who are economically active but under banked. Services offered by UOB include deposit accounts, savings accounts, individual loans
, Trust Group Loans, village phone loans, home improvement loans, bicycle loans and school tuition loans. The bank also offers insurance services, business training and HIV/AIDS training.
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Urwego Opportunity Bank Stock Ownership
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Rank !!Name of Owner!!Percentage Ownership
|-
|1||Hope International||
|-
|2||Opportunity International
||
|-
|-
|3||World Relief
||
|-
|4||World Relief Canada
||
|-
|||Total||100.00
|-
|}
, Rwanda
's capital. The other three full-service branches are located in the provinces. In addition, the bank has twenty-eight other (28) loan-producing offices in Rwanda's thirty (30) districts. The full-service branches of the bank are located in the following locations:
Commercial bank
After the implementation of the Glass–Steagall Act, the U.S. Congress required that banks engage only in banking activities, whereas investment banks were limited to capital market activities. As the two no longer have to be under separate ownership under U.S...
in Rwanda. The bank is one of the ten (10) licensed commercial bank
Commercial bank
After the implementation of the Glass–Steagall Act, the U.S. Congress required that banks engage only in banking activities, whereas investment banks were limited to capital market activities. As the two no longer have to be under separate ownership under U.S...
s in the Republic of Rwanda.
History
Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda, SA (UOB), was created in July 2007, as a result of a merger between Urwego Community Banking SA (Urwego), and Opportunity International Bank of Rwanda SA (OIBR). Urwego, founded by World Relief Rwanda in 1997, was a leading microfinance institution (MFI) in Rwanda. Since 2004 Urwego had been operating as an independent and regulated MFI in the country with branches in Kigali and in the provinces. OIBR was established by Opportunity InternationalOpportunity International
Opportunity International is an organization that provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to more than two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world...
, an international microfinance network dedicated to the development of transformational, commercial microfinance banks in developing countries.
Overview
The bank is a licensed microfinance bank, operated along Christian principles, with services aimed at improving the economic, socialSocial
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
and spiritual conditions of the communities that the bank serves. The bank focuses on serving Rwandans who are economically active but under banked. Services offered by UOB include deposit accounts, savings accounts, individual loans
Loan
A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower....
, Trust Group Loans, village phone loans, home improvement loans, bicycle loans and school tuition loans. The bank also offers insurance services, business training and HIV/AIDS training.
Ownership
According to the bank's website, the following corporate entities are shareholders in the bank.{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Urwego Opportunity Bank Stock Ownership
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Rank !!Name of Owner!!Percentage Ownership
|-
|1||Hope International||
|-
|2||Opportunity International
Opportunity International
Opportunity International is an organization that provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to more than two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world...
||
|-
|-
|3||World Relief
World Relief
World Relief is an international relief and development agency. Founded in 1944 as the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief offers assistance to victims of poverty, disease, hunger, war, disasters and persecution. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the...
||
|-
|4||World Relief Canada
World Relief
World Relief is an international relief and development agency. Founded in 1944 as the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief offers assistance to victims of poverty, disease, hunger, war, disasters and persecution. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the...
||
|-
|||Total||100.00
|-
|}
Branch Network
As of June 2011, UOB has eight (8) full-service branches, four (4) of which, including the bank's headquarters, are located in the city of KigaliKigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
's capital. The other three full-service branches are located in the provinces. In addition, the bank has twenty-eight other (28) loan-producing offices in Rwanda's thirty (30) districts. The full-service branches of the bank are located in the following locations:
- Main Branch - Avenue de la Paix, KigaliKigaliKigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
- Kimirongo Branch - Kimirongo, KigaliKigaliKigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
- Nyarugenge Branch - NyarugengeNyarugengeNyarugenge is a district in Kigali Province, Rwanda. It is based around the city centre of Kigali , and contains most of the city's businesses.- Sectors :...
, KigaliKigaliKigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of... - Kicukiro Branch - KicukiroKicukiro DistrictKicukiro is a district in Kigali Province, Rwanda. Its headquarters is the Kigali suburb of Kicukiro. Kicukiro is home to a thriving market, a number of NGOs and the Bralirwa Brewery. In addition, it is the headquarters for the Friends Church in Rwanda. Kicukiro District is also home to two major...
, KigaliKigaliKigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of... - Muhanga Branch - Muhanga DistrictMuhangaMuhanga is a district in Southern Province, Rwanda. Its capital is Gitarama, one of Rwanda's largest cities, gateway to the west and south of the country and seat of the provisional government during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.- Geography :...
- Rwamagana Branch - RwamaganaRwamaganaRwamagana is a city and capital of both Rwamagana district and the Eastern Province of Rwanda- Description :Rwamagana lies approximately from Kigali, on the newly renovated road leading east towards Tanzania...
, Rwamagana DistrictRwamagana DistrictRwamagana is a district in Eastern Province, Rwanda. Its capital is Rwamagana city, which is also the provincial capital.- Sectors :... - Bugesera Branch - Bugesera DistrictBugeseraBugesera is a district in Eastern Province, Rwanda. Its capital is Nyamata.The district is the location of two memorial sites of the Rwandan Genocide: the Ntarama Genocide Memorial Site and the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Site.- Geography :...
. - Musanze District - Musanze DistrictMusanzeMusanze is a district in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Its capital city is Ruhengeri, which is also sometimes known as Musanze.- Geography and tourism :...