Mmegi

BBS turns to borrowing as loans outpace deposits

Mismatch: BBS’ loans exceeded customer deposits PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Mismatch: BBS’ loans exceeded customer deposits PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The country's sole indigenous commercial bank, BBS advanced loans of P4.6 billion against customer deposits of P4.5 billion last year stretching the bank's books amidst a tightening fiscal environment in the country's financial sector.

The bank's loans-to-deposit ratio stood above 100%, indicating that the bank had maxed out its deposit on lending and now had to turn to external sources for funding of other loans. Whilst the bank demonstrated robust growth in its loan book and profitability metrics in 2024, it faced pressures in its cash reserves as it lent more than deposits and also registered a drop in its liquid assets nearing the prudential requirement set by Bank of Botswana.

The banks executive in a recently released 2024 annual report posted on the bourse revealed that they would turn to borrowing and diversifying their income streams in order to improve their liquidity and increase their loan to deposit ratio.

Editor's Comment
Two-tier education system demands action

Whilst we join Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and other stakeholders in commending the rise in top grades, a testament to the unwavering effort of many teachers and pupils, this progress is fundamentally shadowed by a failing that shames our society. The stark, persistent urban-rural divide is not just a statistic, but an active betrayal of thousands of young Batswana.The figures are a damning indictment. When pass rates in...

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