Access Bank (Ghana) Limited is blazing the trail in Corporate Social Responsibility with the introduction of a novel cash collection initiative on the Banks “Pay Outlet” platform. “Pay Outlet” is a web-based product by Access Bank which allows school fees payments for partner Senior High Schools at all Access Bank branches across the country. The platform, supported by Etranzact, generates reports for reconciliation and management purposes and also allows school authorities to view payments in real time via the internet. Under this initiative, the Bank gives a proportion of the revenue made from the “Pay Outlet” service to the beneficiary School, in the form of a social project that will improve its education and learning environment. More often than not, the beneficiary school recommends the project to be supported. This innovative arrangement complements Access Bank’s CSR Strategy in support of education. The initiative is also a novelty in Corporate Social Responsibility and all nine schools currently on the Bank’s “Pay Outlet” platform have benefited. The E-Business Department in collaboration with the Retail teams of the bank made donations to the beneficiary institutions in the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Western Regions of Ghana. • Akumfi Ameyaw SHS (Brong Ahafo) - Storage Tank • Techiman SHS (Brong Ahafo) - Office Printer • Tuobodom SHS (Brong Ahafo) - Office Printer • Christian Methodist SHS (Greater Accra) - Storage Tank • Accra Girls SHS (Greater Accra) - Storage Tank • Holy Trinity Cathedral SHS (Greater Accra) - Air-conditioner • Presec Osu (Greater Accra) - Office Printer • Tarkwa SHS (Western Region) - Office Printer • Huni Valley (Western Region) - Office Printer Addressing the media on the recent donations by the bank, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Head of Corporate Communications at Access Bank Ghana stated; “Education is a priority area for Access Bank because it is the bedrock for socio-economic development, and an important foundation that every child deserves. As such, we’ve made it our business to explore new ways of increasing literacy levels, encouraging attitudinal change and providing educational resources for effective teaching and learning in many schools across the country. What we have witnessed with the “Pay Outlet” service, is yet another innovative way of us giving back to the people and communities we serve.” She added: “We are inviting more schools to sign on to this service from Access Bank to enable them benefit directly from this initiative”.