The Wamfie Rural Bank in Brong Ahafo, held its 16th annual shareholders meeting at Wamfie last month, where it declared 21. million cedis as its after tax profit for 1997 as against 15 million cedis in 1996.

The bank also purchased more than two billion cedis Akuafo cheques during the cocoa season the same period as against 927 million cedis in 1995/96 main cocoa season.

The vice-chairman of the bank's board of directors, Mr. Edward Kwadwo Asante, presenting the statement of accounts, said the deposit base of the bank saw an increase from 556.9 million cedis in 1996 to 795 m cedis in 1997.

129.5 million cedis was given to its customers as loans while its fixed assets increased from eight million cedis to 14.5 m

cedis, he said.

Mr. Asante added that shareholders equity as at now stands at 30.8 m cedis, an increase of over six million cedis over that of 1996.

The bank has decided to operate a "susu" scheme in order to bring banking services to as many people as possible in its catchment areas. The "susu" scheme will enable petty traders to make daily savings so that the bank could assist them with loans to expand their businesses.