CLIENTS-HUNGRY EQUITY BANK TURNS BWAISE CHURCH INTO MARKET PLACE

We know the market is abit tough but we nevertheless never expected Equity Bank (of all banks) to do something similar to what we are about to accuse them of. Renowned for it’s aggressiveness in search for customers, the Kenyan bank today Sunday stormed Christian Life Church (CLC) in Bwaise and used the pulpit to call on worshippers to open bank accounts and become it’s account-holding customers. Permitted by CLC boss Pr. Jackson Senyonga, Anthony Kituuka who serves as Equity Bank’s Executive Director got the microphone and for more than 30 minutes addressed worshippers about the beauty of banking with his bank in comparison with other financial institutions which Senyonga had faulted for being exploitative and inconsiderate. Accompanied by over 50 sales executives, Kituuka highlighted the advantages associated with banking with Equity as Senyonga nodded in approval. The congregation pensively listened with some occasionally cheering as Kituuka quoted from the Bible (mostly from the book of Hebrews) to justify and corroborate his purely commercial message that barely had anything to do with spirituality. Kituuka, who leads a team of over 800 employees, highlighted the advantages of banking with Equity Bank including having unfettered access to 2,100 Equidukas and close to 40 branches accross the country. He said this year, the Equidukas would grow to over 6,000 in order to bring services nearer to the people. Senyonga gave him a pass not only by allowing him the microphone to market his bank but also by telling his loyal congregation that he himself has for years been banking with Equity Bank where he operates both the shillings and dollar accounts saying he has seen God bless him for his decision to leave his past bank. He said a few years ago, his former bank listed him among it’s 10 wealthiest depositors but he was shocked when he asked for some assistance or facility and they declined saying churches were changing too often to make dependable borrowers. He said the experience had totally been different with Equity Bank. This postive testimony by the Senior Pastor seemingly moved many in his loyal congregation and Kituuka thanked him for the pass he put forward for him. By the time Kituuka (whose mastery of the scriptures excited many in the audience) finished his speech, hundreds were putting up their hands to receive account-opening forms as Senyonga cursed commercial banks that exploit innocent customers. Kituuka went through the different products Equity offers before Senyonga told the congregation that “as your Pastor I’m a well accomplished man who God has blessed with everything in life and taken to the best places in the world and my only remaining desire is to see each one of you also economically prosper and having a bank account is a good start in that direction.” An excited Kituuka said they would cater for all calibre of CLC worshippers including the poorest and the very rich. Saying one doesn’t have to be very rich to own a bank account, Kituuka said his bank was so excited with the partnership (seeing it as an opportunity to deepen financial inclusion) and would in future be ready to partner in funding any CLC projects even if it’s about Pr. Senyonga’s desire to erect the region’s largest Cathedral ever.