Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3 March 2025 – The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) welcomes BRAC Uganda Bank Limited and Opportunity Bank Uganda as its newest members. Their membership strengthens the values-based banking movement, reinforcing a shared commitment to financial inclusion, social impact, and sustainable development in Uganda and across Africa.
Bringing Finance to the Underserved
For years, both banks have played a crucial role in expanding financial access to underserved communities in Uganda. BRAC Uganda Bank Ltd evolved from BRAC’s microfinance operations, launched in 2006, into a Tier II credit institution in 2019. With the country’s largest branch network, it offers inclusive financial services to low-income communities, focusing on women and girls in rural and hard-to-reach areas to help them build sustainable livelihoods. The bank provides group-based microloans exclusively to women and small enterprise loans for entrepreneurs aiming to expand their businesses.
With a legacy dating back to 1995, Opportunity Bank Uganda transitioned from a microfinance institution to a fully-fledged Tier II credit institution, providing a broad range of financial services, including personal loans and savings accounts. The bank emphasises community involvement and strives to support the communities where they operate, reflecting a deep-rooted commitment to social responsibility.
Expanding the Reach of Values-Based Banking
With their commitment to inclusive and sustainable finance, BRAC Uganda Bank Ltd and Opportunity Bank Uganda strengthen the values-based banking movement that uses banking as a force for good.
GABV’s Executive Director, Martin Rohner, welcomes the two new members:
“I am thrilled to welcome two new members in Uganda to the GABV family, BRAC Uganda Bank and Opportunity Bank Uganda. Both banks are leading providers of inclusive finance in their country. BRAC Uganda Bank focuses on the bottom of the pyramid, empowering women and small and micro-entrepreneurs through its innovative financial services, whereas Opportunity Bank Uganda operates in remote rural areas supporting smallholder farmers and financing schools and education. At the GABV we look forward to engaging with our two new members and learning more about their values-based business models.”
With this partnership, the GABV continues to expand its presence in Africa, fostering a financial system rooted in equity, sustainability, and resilience.
The African Chapter of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values currently consists of seven banks: Centenary Bank (Uganda), SIPEM Banque (Madagascar), LAPO Microfinance Bank (Nigeria), FINCA DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ghana and the recently joined, BRAC Uganda Bank Ltd. and Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited. In total, they serve 11.6M customers, manage almost USD 2 billion in assets and employ 14,300 people.
About the GABV
The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is a network of independent banks and banking cooperatives with a shared mission to use finance to deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. Founded in 2009, the GABV comprises 70 financial institutions operating in over 45 countries across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe. It serves more than 50 million customers collectively, holds over USD 265 billion of combined assets under management and employs 100,000 co-workers.
Meet the banks of the network and the countries where they operate: www.gabv.org/members
