NMB ROLLS OUT INCLUSIVE FINANCE INITIATIVE WITH EXPANDED "BANK ON WHEELS" FLEET

Treasury Registrar, Nehemiah Mchechu (second right) cuts the ribbon to officially launch eight "Bank on Wheels" mobile branches that will take banking services to streets, rural areas and livestock auction centres, as part of NMB Bank’s drive to reach every Tanzanian wherever they are. The launch was held in Dar es Salaam. Third right is NMB Bank Managing Director and CEO, Ms Ruth Zaipuna, with NMB Ag. Board Chair, Benson Mahenya (right), NMB Board Director, Prof. Sylvia Temu (fourth right) and NMB Chief Financial Officer, Juma Kimori (left).

Treasury Registrar, Nehemiah Mchechu (right) and NMB Bank Managing Director and CEO, Ms Ruth Zaipuna (second right) pose for a photo after launching eight "Bank on Wheels" mobile branches that will deliver banking services to streets, rural areas and livestock auction centres, as part of the bank’s commitment to reach every Tanzanian wherever they are. Left is NMB Chief Financial Officer, Juma Kimori, while second left is NMB Board Director, Prof. Sylvia Temu.

Dar es Salaam – NMB Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to financial inclusion by taking banking services directly to underserved communities, unveiling eight additional Bank on Wheels mobile branches as part of its Agenda 2030 Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTP) for 2026–2030.

With the latest rollout, NMB now operates 15 mobile branches, a move that significantly strengthens the bank’s Village Banking Strategy aimed at closing the financial access gap in rural and peri-urban Tanzania.

Speaking ahead of the official flag-off ceremony led by Treasury Registrar Mr Nehemiah Mchechu, NMB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ms Ruth Zaipuna said the expanded fleet marks a major acceleration in efforts to bring formal banking services closer to ordinary Tanzanians.

She noted that the mobile branches are designed to serve more than 1,000 previously unbanked villages, many of which have remained outside the reach of conventional banking infrastructure for decades.

“These mobile branches are a powerful extension of our Village Banking Agenda. They are not just vehicles; they are gateways to opportunity,” Ms Zaipuna said.
“They enable farmers, small traders, pastoralists and micro-entrepreneurs to access savings, credit, payments and advisory services without the burden of long travel distances or high transaction costs.”

 

The Bank on Wheels trucks effectively transform open spaces into pop-up bank branches, bringing financial services directly to village centres, markets and remote trading hubs where economic activity is vibrant but access to finance has historically lagged behind.

For rural communities, the initiative translates into fewer lost trading days, reduced costs and lower dependence on informal and risky cash-based systems.

Digital Backbone to Rural Banking

The mobile banking initiative is complemented by NMB’s digital-first rural banking strategy, anchored by products such as the NMB Pesa Account—a low-cost account that can be opened with as little as TZS 1,000 and carries no monthly maintenance fees.

Linked to NMB Mkononi, the account allows customers to save, make payments and access unsecured digital micro-loans of up to TZS 2 million through Mshiko Fasta, often without visiting a physical branch.

Ms Zaipuna emphasized that true financial inclusion requires banks to reach people where they live and work, particularly those operating in the informal and semi-formal economy, which remains the backbone of Tanzania’s growth.

Strong Agent Network Enhances Reach

Beyond mobility and digital solutions, NMB has also significantly expanded its wakala (agent) banking network, growing from about 8,400 agents in 2020 to more than 73,000 agents today under the 2021–2025 MTP.

These agents serve as permanent access points for cash and digital services, ensuring continuity even after the Bank on Wheels moves on to other locations.

The impact of the strategy is already evident. Since the rollout, over 900,000 NMB Pesa accounts have been opened within months, with the bank targeting 1.5 million new accounts by year-end—a clear indicator of strong demand for accessible and affordable banking services.

By combining mobility, digital innovation and community-based access points, NMB is not only expanding its footprint but also helping to reshape Tanzania’s financial landscape—one village, one market day and one newly banked citizen at a time.