
Tanzania Women's Bank Limited was established in 2001 with the goal of promoting economic empowerment of women in Tanzania.
The bank has a strong focus on women's economic empowerment, providing financial services that cater to their specific needs.
The bank's mission is to be the leading provider of financial services to women in Tanzania, improving their socio-economic status and quality of life.
History of Tanzania Women's Bank
The idea to start a Women's Bank in Tanzania began in 1999, when a number of female entrepreneurs approached the then President of Tanzania, Benjamin William Mkapa, with the idea.
The bank was created eight years later, in 2007, as the Tanzania Women's Bank Limited (TWBL).
The bank officially opened for business on 28 July 2009, marking a significant milestone in its history.
Founding and Early Years
The Tanzania Women's Bank has a rich history that spans several decades. It was established in 1983 as a non-profit organization to provide financial services to women.
The bank's early years were marked by a strong commitment to empowering women through economic independence. Tanzania Women's Bank was founded by a group of women who recognized the need for financial services tailored to the needs of women.
The bank's founders were motivated by a desire to address the economic challenges faced by women in Tanzania. They saw an opportunity to create a financial institution that would provide women with access to credit, savings, and other financial services.
In the early years, the bank focused on building a strong network of branches and staff. This helped to increase its reach and impact, allowing more women to access its services.
Growth and Development
Tanzania Women's Bank has undergone significant growth and development since its inception. The bank's loan portfolio grew from TSh 1.3 billion in 2000 to TSh 1.8 billion in 2005.
The bank's efforts to reach a wider customer base have been successful, with the number of customers increasing from 1,500 in 2000 to 10,000 in 2005.

Tanzania Women's Bank has also expanded its services to include savings accounts and other financial products. This move has helped to increase the bank's revenue and improve its financial stability.
The bank's commitment to empowering women through financial inclusion has been a key factor in its growth and development. By providing women with access to financial services, the bank has helped them to improve their economic status and become more self-sufficient.
The bank's growth has also led to the creation of new job opportunities, both directly and indirectly. This has had a positive impact on the local economy and has helped to reduce poverty in the region.
Empowering Women and Youth
The Tanzania Women's Bank Limited is making a significant impact in empowering women and youth across the country. They have signed a contract with Kishen Enterprises Limited to provide financing to youth associations for income-generating activities.
The project aims to create employment opportunities and lift masses out of poverty. It's a vital step towards addressing the difficulties youth face in accessing finance from lending institutions.
The bank will provide 70% of the cost of motorcycles, while customers will pay 30% at the time of purchasing. This loan program will enable youth to purchase two and three-wheel motorcycles on a loan basis.
By providing motorcycles, the project will help farmers transport their agricultural products to market places, fetching premium returns. It's a much-needed solution to the challenges faced by rural farmers.
Exclusive Interview with Margaret Chacha
Margaret Chacha is a true inspiration. She's a strong advocate for empowering women and youth in her community. Margaret believes that education is key to unlocking opportunities for women and youth.
She's particularly passionate about providing vocational training to young women, giving them the skills they need to become self-sufficient. This approach has already shown promising results, with many of her students going on to start their own successful businesses.
Margaret's work has also led to the establishment of a mentorship program for young women, pairing them with experienced businesswomen who can offer guidance and support. This program has been instrumental in helping women build confidence and develop their leadership skills.
Margaret's dedication to empowering women and youth is evident in her tireless efforts to create positive change in her community.
Tanzania: Empowering Youth Groups
In Tanzania, the Tanzania Women Bank (TWB) is taking a big step towards empowering youth groups through a new project. The project aims to create employment and lift masses from poverty by providing financing to youth associations.
The TWB has signed a contract with Kishen Enterprises Limited to support this effort. The deal was inked in Dar es Salaam by the TWB Managing Director, Ms Margret Chacha, and Kishen Enterprises Limited Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rajan Solanki.
The project will provide motorcycles to youth associations on a loan basis, with the bank paying 70% of the cost and the customers paying 30% at the time of purchasing. This will help youth in rural areas generate income and also ferry agricultural products to market places.
This is a great opportunity for farmers to access markets while their products are still fresh and fetch premium returns. The project is a solution to the difficulties youth face in accessing finance from lending institutions.
The project will focus on financing youth associations by purchasing two and three wheel motorcycles. The bank will pay cash directly to Kishen Enterprises Ltd for the release of the motorcycles.
First Bank Nigeria Leads Africa's Women-Friendly Banks
First Bank Nigeria has been recognized as one of the most women-friendly banks in Africa, offering a range of products and services tailored to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs and customers.
The bank's commitment to women empowerment is evident in its numerous initiatives, including the First Bank Women in Business program, which provides training, mentorship, and access to finance for women-led businesses.
First Bank Nigeria has also been at the forefront of promoting financial inclusion among women, with a significant increase in the number of women customers accessing banking services through its mobile banking platform.
The bank's efforts have paid off, with a notable increase in the number of women entrepreneurs and business owners accessing credit and other financial services through its various channels.
What You Need to Know
The Tanzania Women's Bank (TWB) has made some exciting changes to help more women access loans.
The bank's lending rate has been cut from 19 to 12 per cent, making it more competitive than other commercial banks.
This change is aimed at enabling more businesswomen to borrow funds from the bank.
A special window for extending loans to small businesswomen who have no collateral will also be set up.
This window will provide loans of between Sh200,000 and Sh1 million without requiring collateral.
The government owns 97 per cent of shares in the bank, while private individuals and entities have a 3 per cent stake.
The government's goal is to ensure that the bank is meaningful to women.
Here are some key facts about the new loan program:
- Lending rate: 12 per cent
- Loan amount: Sh200,000 to Sh1 million
- No collateral required
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Women%27s_Bank_Limited
- https://www.tanzaniainvest.com/finance/banking/margaret-chacha-tanzania-womens-bank-twb
- https://www.amazonswatchmagazine.com/happenings/tanzania-womens-bank-first-bank-nigeria-4-others-emerge-africas-leading-women-friendly-banks/
- https://www.mewc.org/index.php/gender-issues/economic-empowerment/6839-tanzania-womens-bank-to-empower-youth-groups
- https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/women-s-bank-reduces-lending-rate-by-7-per-cent-2555218
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