Ahantaman Rural Bank PLC has launched a six-channel digital banking platform aimed at transforming service delivery and expanding financial inclusion within Ghana’s rural banking sector.

The integrated platform offers customers round-the-clock access to fast, secure and convenient banking services.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Benjamin Afful-Eshun, said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to position the bank as a leader in digital transformation while deepening access to financial services across underserved communities.

“The platform includes a USSD service that works on all mobile phones, with or without internet access. Customers can perform transactions such as deposits, withdrawals and interbank transfers by dialing a short code, as long as they have network connectivity,” he explained.

He added that the newly introduced Ahantaman Mobile App provides a seamless and user-friendly interface for customers to manage their accounts and carry out transactions on smartphones.

Other components of the platform include Merchant Pay, designed for merchants and mobile money vendors, enabling instant access to accounts and e-cash purchases without visiting a banking hall.

A QR code payment system has also been integrated to support instant payments and direct transfers into merchants’ accounts.

For businesses, the bank has introduced a Corporate Pay platform to facilitate secure internet banking, allowing companies to process payroll and execute transactions efficiently at any time.

Touching on the bank’s performance, Mr Afful-Eshun described 2025 as an exceptional year despite declining treasury bill and investment rates within the industry.

He noted that a strategic shift towards core lending, initiated in 2022, helped sustain growth.

“We made a conscious decision to priorities lending to support the local economy rather than rely heavily on investment income,” he said.

According to him, the bank has completed its 2025 audit and is expected to publish its financial results by the end of the month, with projections indicating nearly a 100 per cent increase in profit before tax.

He added that deposits and other key performance indicators have also recorded strong growth.

Mr Afful-Eshun further disclosed that the bank has surpassed the minimum capital requirement set by the Bank of Ghana for rural banks transitioning into community banks, positioning it to become a leading community bank by the end of the year.

The Board Vice Chairman Dominic Cobbinah said the Bank’s digital transformation is being driven under the theme “One Bank, One System, Six Channels,” aimed at enabling customers to transact anytime and anywhere.

He revealed that plans are underway to introduce fully digital account opening by the next quarter.

He noted that the initiative aligns with government’s broader push towards a cash-lite economy and the development of a robust digital financial ecosystem.

Board Chairman Rt Rev Daniel De-Graft Brace described the investment in digital infrastructure as a demonstration of bold leadership by the bank.

He said the bank has grown from modest beginnings into a modern financial institution with 23 branches across the Western and Central Regions, serving customers nationwide.

According to him, the new platform will enhance financial integration, improve market access and speed up transactions, ultimately supporting the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises as well as corporate organizations.