News & Media

Bank's operations during Corona virus outbreak

As part of our efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus, we would like to advise our clients to, as much as possible, use emails, telephone calls or other electronic channels should they wish to make queries with the Bank.

However, we remain open to receive and engage with our clients for transactions that require person-to-person interactions. This advice is in the interest of both clients and the Bank’s employees.

We invite you to join in efforts to fight and control this global pandemic that has also affected our country.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Issued by:


Rino Muranda
Manager: Marketing and Communication
For enquiries, kindly contact the Marketing and Communication Division at:
Tel.: 061 2074332
Fax: 061 2074206

Agribank rated as best performing Development Finance Institution

Agribank achieved an overall score of 81% and obtained an A rating at the 9th Peer Review of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI). A total of 38 development finance institutions submitted their externally audited prudential ratings for assessment on standards of governance, financial prudence and operations.

Agribank was classified as Best Performing African Development Finance Institution (DFI) with a rating of A and will be presented with the prestigious award for 2019 at the General Assembly of the AADFI in Abidjan, Ivory Coast later this year.

AADFI Chairman Thabo Thamane, congratulated the Agribank Board, Management and staff for the record performance and urged the Bank “not to relent in its efforts to entrench best practices in its operations”. Thamane added that the Bank should “continue to sustain its development financing mandate.”

On his part, Agribank chief executive officer, Sakaria Nghikembua, expressed delight at the achievement, noting that the bank has embedded good practices in governance, as well as in financial and operational management. “We will continue to implement these practices to ensure that the bank is not only sustainable, but that it delivers on its core mandate of economic upliftment and contributing towards food security at both the household and national levels.”

Issued by:
Rino Muranda
Manager: Marketing and Communication
For enquiries, kindly contact the Marketing and Communication Division at:
Tel.: 061 2074332
Fax: 061 2074206

Agribank delivers solid results

Premier agricultural lender, Agribank, recently announced a solid set of results for the year to 31 March 2019. Speaking after the bank's annual general meeting, chief executive officer Sakaria Nghikembua announced that despite the difficult operating environment, characterised by a severe drought and an economy in recession, the bank delivered a healthy set of results.

According to Nghikembua, Agribank's loan book grew year on year by 15 per cent, from N$2.4 billion in 2018 to N$2.8 billion in 2019. The growth in the loan book came largely on the back of new business growth. Disbursements were 22 per cent up on prior year, increasing from N$358 million in 2018 to N$438 million in 2019. As a result, interest income grew 14.5 per cent from N$189 million in 2018 to N$216 million in 2019. In general, provisions for bad debts on loan advances were well contained partly because of a steady hold on the collections rate and largely because of ensuring sufficient collateral cover for high-risk loan accounts. Expenses were well contained at a growth of 4.4 per cent whilst the bank's surplus increased 87 per cent from N$30 million in 2018 to N$56 million in 2019.

The Bank's total assets exceeded grew by nearly 7 per cent year on year and, exceeding the N$3 billion-dollar mark for the first time in history. Total assets stood at N$3.011 billion at the end of March 2019 compared to N$2.82 billion the year before whilst net assets grew 6.1 per cent from N$2.33 billion in 2018 to N$2.44 billion in 2019.
Turning to key strategic actions during the year, Nghikembua stated that the bank opened a branch office in Gobabis in Omaheke region as part of its strategy to be accessible to its customers. The bank continued to roll out its salary-backed no collateral product for communal farmers, disbursing N$26 million in new loans for this product during the year. Since launch in April 2017, the bank has disbursed a total of N$61 million in salary-backed no-collateral loans to communal farmers. In addition, the bank also introduced a no collateral loan product for full time communal farmers called emerging retail financing product in May 2018. A total of N$4.5 million was disbursed to communal farmers under this product during the financial year. The introduction of the two no-collateral loan products makes it possible for communal farmers to access funding for agricultural purposes.

The bank created and/or maintained 46,816 direct jobs in the agriculture in 2019, compared to 45,232 jobs in 2018. The bank thus plays a very important role in job creation, income generation and poverty alleviation. As part of its corporate social investments drive, the bank took 6453 farmers and farming employees through its training and mentorship interventions in 2019, registering a 27 per cent increase on the 5091 beneficiaries in 2018. The bank continued to sponsor three students in veterinary medicine, crop science and animal science at the University of Namibia whilst also investing in its employees through leadership development and skills-specific programmes.

Medium-term trends demonstrate that the bank is firmly on a positive trajectory. The rate of growth in interest income has changed from low levels on 1 per cent in 2015 and 2016 to 6.4 per cent in 2017, 12.8 per cent in 2018 and 14.5 per cent in 2019. The rate of growth in expenses on the other hand had decreased from high levels of 10 per cent and 17 per in 2015 and 2016 respectively to 11 per cent in 2017, 7.8 per cent in 2018 and 4.4 per cent in 2019. During the same period, the bank registered a consistently increasing surplus position, in line with its sustainability strategy. Collections have steadily grown from N$157 million in 2015 to N$296 million in 2019. Despite the current economic and climatic environment, reasonable progress continues to be me on the collections front as more customers positively respond to the call to service their loan accounts.

The bank's prudential ratings score has improved from 65 per cent in 2016 to 81 per cent in 2019, indicating demonstrable progress in governance, financial management and operational standards. The ratings are externally audited. Commenting on the bank's trajectory chief executive officer Sakaria Nghikembua indicated that despite environmental and internal legacy challenges, the bank is making good and rapid progress, stating 'good leadership at board level has been critical in ensuring we have the right strategy and the right people to make a difference. As the statistics show, the improvements have been all-round. We know it's been a challenging road and it will remain so for a long time yet but we are relishing the opportunity to serve and make a lasting impact by running a sustainable organisation’.

Issued by:
Sakaria Nghikembua
Chief Executive

For enquiries, kindly contact the Marketing and Customer Strategy Department at:

Tel.: 061 2074279 / Fax: 061 2074206

Deputy minister of finance urges farmers to support Agribank

The deputy minister of Finance, Natangwe Ithete has applauded Agribank for introducing no collateral loan products for both communal and commercial farmers. Ithete was speaking at the local economic revival conference for the maize triangle towns of Tsumeb, Otavi and Grootfontein last week.

The deputy minister highlighted the competitive interest rates offered by the bank and urged local farmers to support the bank through taking out loans and honouring the repayment of such loans. “The bank is not a profit making institution and the little interest that they charge is meant to recoup their operational cost and to ensure that there is money to on-lend to other clients to have a bigger developmental impact”.Ithete also defended the practice of advancing collaterised loans as it encourages loan holders to work hard and produce in order to repay their loans. “Collateral encourages to work hard to ensure that you do not lose your property for non-payment”, Ithete stated.

The deputy minister also defended the turn-around times of the bank, noting that whilst he understand that the loan turn-around times take a bit longer when compared to commercial banks, it is necessary to do proper due diligence to avoid over indebtedness that may lead to the borrower not able to service their loans. “It is only fair that proper due diligence is carried out to make sure that our people obtain loans they can afford and repay to ensure the bank is sustainable. I therefore urge all Namibians and especially the youth to support Agribank in its mandate to promote the growth of agriculture”, he stated.

The conference was attended by the political leadership of the Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions, senior government officials, youth and farmers from Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein.

Issued by:

Rino Muranda
Manager: Marketing and Communication
For enquiries, kindly contact the Marketing and Communication Division at:
Tel.: 061 2074332

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FAQ

What type of security must I provide for a loan at Agribank?

Loans are granted against security of fixed property, investment or any other acceptable form of security (fixed deposits, investments and surrendering value of policies). read more

Does Agribank also provide personal loans?

No, Agribank is not a commercial bank. read more

Does Agribank provide loans to first time farmers?

Yes, Agribank can assist you to start farming. read more

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