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Introduction to Exim Bank (Uganda)
Exim Bank (Uganda), commonly known as Exim Bank, is a private commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Uganda (BOU), the central bank and national banking regulator of Uganda.

Background

Founded in 2011 as Imperial Bank Uganda by two major investors:
- Mukwano Group - a diversified Ugandan business and manufacturing conglomerate
- Imperial Bank Kenya - a medium-sized financial services provider based in Nairobi, Kenya
In October 2015, following issues at parent company Imperial Bank Kenya, BOU took over Imperial Bank Uganda.
In March 2016, Exim Bank (Tanzania) acquired the ownership interest of Imperial Bank Kenya and renamed the bank to Exim Bank (Uganda).

Ownership

Exim Bank (Uganda) is now majority owned by Exim Bank of Tanzania:

Owner	Percentage Ownership
Exim Bank of Tanzania	58.6%
Amazal Holdings Limited of Uganda	36.5%
Export Finance Limited of Uganda	4.9%

Part of Larger Group

Exim Bank (Uganda) is a member of the Exim Bank Group (East Africa), a large financial services conglomerate.
The group has subsidiaries in Tanzania, Comoros, Uganda and Djibouti.
It also maintains a representative office in Ethiopia.

Products and Services

Exim Bank (Uganda) provides banking services to both individuals and corporate clients. Key offerings include:

Home loans
Personal loans
Vehicle loans
Investments
Checking and savings accounts
Debit cards
Bid bonds
Other services for corporate banking clients

The bank had total assets of approximately UGX 341.2 billion (US$90.9 million) as of December 2019.

Overview of Products and Services

Exim Bank (Uganda) offers a wide range of banking products and services for retail, business and corporate clients.

Retail Banking Services

The bank provides the following services for individual customers:

Savings accounts - Regular savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts, savings accounts for minors
Checking accounts - Regular checking accounts, interest-earning checking accounts, no-minimum checking
Debit cards - Visa, Mastercard debit cards linked to customer accounts
Digital banking - Online banking, mobile banking apps, SMS banking
Loans
- Home loans - Mortgages for purchasing and renovating homes
- Personal loans - For big-ticket expenses like weddings, education, vacations etc.
- Auto loans - For purchasing new and used vehicles
- Overdraft facility - Short-term credit facility linked to checking accounts
Investments - Savings schemes, fixed deposits, retirement savings accounts
Safe deposit lockers - For secure storage of valuables

Business Banking

For SMEs and small businesses, Exim Bank (Uganda) provides:

Current accounts - For daily business transactions
Overdrafts - Short-term credit for working capital needs
Term loans - Business loans for long-term capital expenditures
Trade financing - Letters of credit, bank guarantees, bid bonds etc.
POS terminals - For accepting payments through debit/credit cards
Online banking - To manage accounts and payments digitally
Cash management - Collections, payments, liquidity solutions

Corporate Banking

For large corporate clients, the bank offers:

Working capital financing - Short-term loans, overdrafts, cash credit
Term loans - Long-term loans for capacity expansion etc.
Trade financing - Export-import solutions, letters of credit, guarantees
Treasury services - Currency exchange, hedging solutions
Cash management - Customized solutions for collections, payments, liquidity
Custodial services - Escrow accounts, funds transfer, payment processing
Corporate internet banking - To manage accounts and track transactions

The bank's wide range of retail, business and corporate banking solutions cater to customers across various segments.

Branch Network and Geographic Presence

As of July 2022, Exim Bank (Uganda) has the following 7 branches located in and around Kampala:

Main Branch - 6 Hannington Road, Kampala
Kyaggwe Branch - Mukwano Shopping Mall, 23-31 Rashid Khamis Road, Kampala
Kikuubo Branch - 24 Kikuubo Lane, Kampala
Acacia Mall Branch - Acacia Shopping Mall, Acacia Avenue, Kololo, Kampala
Nakawa Branch - Plot 1-2, Enterprise Close, Ntinda Industrial Area, Nakawa Division, Kampala
Industrial Area Branch - 86-96 Sixth Street, Industrial Area, Kampala
Kisenyi Branch - Kafumbe Mukasa Road, Kisenyi, Kampala

The bank's headquarters and main branch are located on Hannington Road in Kampala. This is the main business district of Uganda's capital city.

All the branches are concentrated in Kampala and its nearby suburbs, indicating that Exim Bank's focus is currently on urban customers. The branches are spread across different parts of Kampala to provide proximity and accessibility to customers.

Some of the branches are located in or near popular shopping malls and markets:

Mukwano Mall - Large shopping mall in downtown Kampala
Acacia Mall - Upscale shopping mall in the affluent Kololo area
Kikuubo - Kampala's main wholesale and retail market

This indicates the bank's strategy is to establish branches at commercially attractive and high visibility locations.

The bank does not have any branches outside of the Greater Kampala area as of now. But given its recent growth and profitability, Exim Bank may look to expand network in other urban centers and regions of Uganda in the future.

Overall, Exim Bank (Uganda) has established a strong presence in Kampala to serve retail, SME and corporate customers. Further geographic expansion can pave the way for wider customer reach.

Recent Performance and Future Outlook

Recent Performance

Exim Bank (Uganda) reached an important milestone in 2021 when it achieved profitability amidst the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some key highlights of the bank's recent performance:

The bank registered an after-tax profit of UGX 4.419 billion (US$1.2 million) in 2019. This was a significant turnaround from previous years of losses.
Total assets increased to UGX 341.2 billion (US$90.9 million) in 2019 from UGX 326 billion in 2018.
Customer deposits grew to UGX 275.6 billion (US$73.4 million) in 2019.
The bank has built a customer base of over 25,000 retail, SME and corporate customers.

This improved performance can be attributed to:

Increasing business from existing customers
Addition of new customers across segments
Strengthening of risk management
Optimization of operating costs
Revenue growth from wider product range

The return to profitability in 2021, despite the pandemic, underscores the bank's resilience and indicates a positive trajectory going forward.

Future Plans and Outlook

Exim Bank (Uganda) is well-positioned for further growth in the future by leveraging the following strengths and strategies:

Strong parent - Support from Exim Bank Tanzania provides financial stability and regional expertise
Technology focus - Increased use of digital channels to improve customer experience and efficiency
Business intelligence - Use of data analytics and market insights for product development and risk management
Talent development - Prioritize skills training and development to build capable workforce
Regional presence - Leverage parent company's presence across East Africa for synergies
Diversified products - Continue enhancing product suite for all customer segments

The bank aims to consolidate its position in the retail segment and capture a larger share of the corporate banking and SME business.

With its customer-centric approach, investments in technology and human capital, and support from its regional parent, Exim Bank (Uganda) is poised for strong growth in the coming years.

Conclusion

Exim Bank (Uganda) has come a long way since its founding in 2011. After undergoing an ownership change in 2016, the bank has stabilized its operations and set itself on a growth trajectory.

Some key takeaways about Exim Bank (Uganda):

Strong retail banking presence in Kampala with 7 branches
Comprehensive suite of products for individuals and businesses
Achieved profitability in 2021 indicating positive performance
Leveraging technology and talent to improve customer experience
Support from parent Exim Bank Tanzania provides stability
Focus on analytics and insights for product development
Poised for further growth by tapping more of corporate and SME segments

In a relatively short span of time, Exim Bank (Uganda) has established itself as an emerging player in the banking sector in Uganda. With its customer-centric approach backed by regional expertise, the bank is well positioned to disrupt the market dominated by older established players. Exim Bank (Uganda) is definitely a bank to watch in the coming years.

FAQs

What are the key products and services offered by Exim Bank (Uganda)?

Exim Bank (Uganda) offers a full range of retail banking services including savings and checking accounts, loans, credit cards, investments etc. For businesses, the bank provides current accounts, term loans, trade financing, cash management etc. Key offerings for large corporates include working capital financing, cash management, and treasury services.

How many branches does Exim Bank (Uganda) have in the country?

As of July 2022, Exim Bank (Uganda) has 7 branches, all of which are located in and around Kampala. The bank does not have any branches outside of the capital city as yet.

What are the major shareholders of Exim Bank (Uganda)?

The majority shareholder is Exim Bank Tanzania with 58.6% ownership. Amazal Holdings Limited of Uganda owns 36.5% stake in the bank. Remaining 4.9% is held by Export Finance Limited of Uganda.

Does Exim Bank (Uganda) have a presence outside the country?

Exim Bank (Uganda) is part of the larger Exim Bank Group that has presence in Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti and Ethiopia. So while Exim Bank Uganda does not have overseas operations, it can leverage the regional presence of its parent company.

What is the future outlook for Exim Bank (Uganda) in the country?

The bank is poised for strong growth in the coming years by leveraging technology, developing talent, enhancing products, and tapping into corporate and SME segments. The support from its regional parent also provides stability.

References

0. https://eximbank-ug.com/

1. https://eximbank-ug.com/digital-banking/online-banking

2. https://eximbank-ug.com/talk-to-us

3. https://eximbank-ug.com/about-us

4. https://eximbank-ug.com/digital-banking/online-banking/online-banking-personal

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exim_Bank_(Uganda)#:~:text=Exim%20Bank%20Uganda%20was%20established,%2C%20based%20in%20Nairobi%2C%20Kenya.

6. https://www.sc.com/ug/about-us/#:~:text=Standard%20Chartered%20Bank%20Uganda%20Limited,Commercial%20Bank%20in%20the%20country.

7. https://eximbank-ug.com/network#:~:text=We%20have%20seven%20(7)%20branches,in%20and%20around%20Kampala%20City.

8. https://wise.com/gb/swift-codes/EXTNUGKAXXX

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exim_Bank_(Uganda)

10. https://ug.linkedin.com/company/exim-bank-uganda