There were smiles, jokes and hugs at the banking hall of the imposing edifice of UT Bank when the celebrated Black Stars initialed to open accounts at the bank. UT Bank, an indigenous bank in the country, paid a seed money of a GH¢1,000 for each of the 23-member playing body who made Ghana and Africa proud at the just ended World Cup in South Africa. Each member of the technical bench of the Black Stars is also entitled to an account with a seed money of GH¢500. In all the bank is expected to spend GH¢27,500 to open the accounts. Before the Stars provided their details for the accounts to be opened, the Chief Operations Officer of UT Bank, Captain Budu Koomson, said the bank’s gesture was in recognition of the Black Stars’ unyielding persistence and tenacity which won for them the respect of not only Africans but many people in every part of the world. He said the Black Stars and UT Bank shared some common values such as integrity and a can-do attitude even in seemingly impossible situations. Captain Koomson said the amount was the bank’s contribution to the flurry of commendation and praises the players and their managers have received. He assured management of the Stars that management of the bank will soon convene a meeting to discuss ways of fostering a lasting relationship that will hold business value for both sides. The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kwesi Nyantekyi, responding, said the management and technical handlers of the Black Stars were humbled by UT Bank’s gesture. He said the bank’s tremendous generosity was the icing on the cake of the enthusiastic commendation the team had received nationwide since returning from South Africa where the team joined the small league of African countries to make it to the quarter-final stage of the World Cup.