Rural Banks have been urged to reconcile and submit their returns on time to avoid being sanctioned. Mr. Joseph Weital, a representative of the National Executive Committee of APEX Bank Board sounded the warning at the weekend in Bawku West in the Upper East Region during the North Eastern Chapter General Meeting of Rural Banks. He stated that APEX Bank would soon liaise with the Bank of Ghana to sanction Rural Banks who failed to submit their returns in time. He appealed to Board Members of Rural Banks to ensure that their Managers live up to their tasks and obligations. “Bank means serious business and as Board Members you must ensure that your Bank Managers perform their tasks effectively”, Mr. Weitel stressed. Mr. Wheital urged Rural Banks to develop innovative ways of attracting and retaining more customers, stressing that Rural Banks would be facing a stiffer competition and may lose their customers if they failed to develop innovative means to win more customers. He cited Barclays Bank, which had come out with more attractive packages thereby getting more customers. He asked Rural Banks to improve upon the conditions and salaries of their workers to encourage them to render quality services to customers. He explained that the time would come when APEX Bank may not be able to support Rural Banks and asked them to develop a strategy that would enable them to generate their own income. The Chapter President of the North Eastern Chapter of Rural Banks, Mr. John Asagibi said their total expenditure for 2006 was 145,536,711 cedis and it made income surplus of 2,971,85 cedis. Mr. Asagibi said the Association sought and obtained financial assistance from Felix Foundation and the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC) in addition to their resources and carried out human resource training for the members of the Association. Mr. George Anoh, APEX Bank Manager in-charge of Upper East, reiterated the need for Rural Banks to give customers the priority attention they deserved. Mrs. Agnes Chagabatia, Deputy Minister of Upper East charged Rural Banks to live above reproach to win the confidence of the public. Source: GNA