PMBL to increase services in Maprik

By PETER ESILA
PEOPLE’s Micro Bank Ltd (PMBL) chief executive officer Anthony Dela Cruz said the bank will open a bigger branch in Maprik, East Sepik, by the second quarter, due to the growing demand for its services.
The Maprik branch currently only served customers by appointment.
He said Maprik was a growing township and PMBL envisioned having more customers.
“That is the rationale why we should put a branch there anour view is that it will eventually be more prosperous because of the available space for development,” he told The National yesterday.
“Maprik is a fast emerging commercial area and we see a lot of new businesses emerging.
“Transport is a huge demand, transporting goods between Wewak and Maprik and also the emergence of small businesses in SMEs in the operation, the growth of vanilla with people holding a lot of cash.
“We will help grow the local economy in Maprik.
“We will see fast development, commercial development and that will extend to the nearby districts and LLGs.”
Meanwhile, Dela Cruz said development of the Tari branch in Hela was also being considered.
He said there was a need for PMBL’s services at the Hela capital as banking services in the province were limited.
Dela Cruz said the Mendi branch would also be reopened by the middle of this year after it was forced to close because of the earthquake in 2018.