On the 30th of November 2018, First Capital Bank renewed its commitment to contributing to the growth of Botswana as it celebrated the opening of its new head office building, First Capital House. The opening was officiated by His Excellency, Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana.

Raj Patel, Vice Chairman of First Capital Bank Board, says the bank believes it can make an important contribution to Botswana’s economy. “First Capital Bank has helped to fund several businesses that started out small but have now grown substantially. We believe that through partnering with our clients to grow their businesses we can help to build the economy and ultimately a future for Botswana’s children.

In keeping with this commitment, First Capital Bank also made a donation of P100 000 on behalf of the Office of the President to the Eyes for the World Agora International Project in Botswana. The project which gives children in underprivileged areas accesses to eye tests and glasses. “We believe that our growth as a bank is intertwined with that of the communities within which we operate. So while we want to contribute to the broader economy, we also want to make an immediate difference to improving people’s lives,” says Patel.

First Capital Bank first began operating in Botswana in 2008 as Capital Bank. Over the past decade, it has grown to now employ 160 staff members serving more than 18 000 customers. First Capital Bank currently has four branches in Botswana – three in Gaborone and another in Francistown.

Jaco Viljoen, CEO of First Capital Bank Botswana, says the bank is proud to have outperformed other players in the local banking industry over the past five years. “The opening of our new head office is a moment to celebrate the bank’s success, not only in growing our business but also in continuously improving our service to our clients. As our clients realize their potential, we recognize that we also have to be nimble enough to respond to their changing needs.”

Viljoen says First Capital Bank’s focus on building strong relationships with its clients forms a key part of this. “We know our clients and understand their businesses and the environment they operate in, which allows us to respond to their needs much quicker. We will retain this focus on relationships as we continue on our journey to become a leading and nimble regional banking group which can keep pace with our clients as they seek to expand into new markets.”

As part of this journey, the bank also recently rebranded to create a new and cohesive brand identity for all of FMBcapital’s operations across Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. FMBcapital Holdings plc, which is based in Mauritius and listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange, holds a 38.6% shareholding in First Capital Bank Botswana.