A Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Mohamadu Bawumiya has stated that all rural and commercial banks as well as service and loan companies will be required to issue the E-switch smart cards to all customers by the end of June this year. That, he said was meant to ensure efficient delivery of financial services to rural populations under a common payment system. The E-switch smart card is an electronic payment system that is being introduced by the Bank of Ghana to reduce the use of physical cash in transaction. Dr Bawumiya was speaking at the inauguration of the Gbui Rural Bank in the Volta Region. He urged rural banks to employ suitably qualified personnel to man the banks the rural banks in order to enable them compete favourably in the banking sector. The Deputy Governor expressed regret that poor technical and communication facilities were negatively affecting the operations of the rural banks. The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Gyameshi entreated rural banks to formulate sponsorship programmes for students in rural communities.