Stanbic Bank supports BSE competition with P1.5m
Katlego Rantsho | Monday July 21, 2025 06:16
The announcement was made this week during an award ceremony held at the BSE training room in Gaborone.
Speaking at the event, Kealeboga Phoi, the chief finance and value management officer at Stanbic Bank Botswana, emphasised the value of practical learning in transforming financial behaviour.
“This competition is one of several initiatives supported under our strategic partnership with the BSE. “It’s accessible and educational design was a deliberate effort to demystify investment and drive broader financial participation,” she said.
She stated that Stanbic Bank has committed P1.49 million towards this initiative because it includes funding the BSE Stock Market Simulator and doing targeted financial literacy campaigns.
The Stock Market Simulator is an online platform where students of the stock exchange are able to mimic trades and track their performance.
Phoi further said that the simulator allows users to understand portfolio behaviour, market risk and equity performance through immersive engagement.
She noted that financial literacy is not just a corporate responsibility but a priority for national development.
“Growth happens when knowledge meets access. We want people to understand money beyond saving and borrowing. “They must know how to evaluate time, value, risk, and opportunity,' she said.
She added: “We treat financial literacy as a core priority. A financially informed citizen is more likely to make decisions that benefit not just themselves but the entire economy.”
Phoi further said that the partnership between Stanbic Bank and BSE is a strategic collaboration with long-term goals. She highlighted that though BSE contributes knowledge of rules and laws and national oversight, Stanbic brings infrastructure, funding and community engagement.
“This is what we mean when we say Botswana is our home, we drive her growth,” Phoi concluded.
Thapelo Moribame, the BSE’s head of market development, highlighted a concern from long back where Batswana shy away from investing in capital markets due to fear of risk and lack of understanding. She said that with efforts to close this gap, the BSE, in partnership with Stanbic Bank Botswana, launched the technology-driven platform named the Stock Market Simulator in April 2024.
She highlighted that the simulator was designed as an online trading environment to help the public learn about stock selection and portfolio management. Moribame explained that the aim was to offer a practical, engaging tool that would help build confidence and deepen knowledge of capital markets.
Moribame added that the simulator plays a crucial role in promoting financial literacy and inclusion by allowing users to practice trading without the fear of financial loss.
Participants in the competition emerged more financially informed, with many gaining the confidence to consider future investments. Winners were awarded share vouchers to begin real portfolios, turning learning into practical action.