Among the financial institutions located in Ségou, there is the BNDA (Banque Nationale de Développement Agricole) whose thousands of customers say they are very proud for having made the right choice. To bring the bank as close as possible to customers, the first authorities of the institution opened an office in the city center attached to the main branch. Since October 2019, the BNDA agency in Ségou is under the direction of Mr. Sory Ibrahim Kalil Kaba. Before Ségou, Mr. Kaba first served in 2006 at the central agency of Bamako; in 2013 at the Grand Marché agency and before being transferred to the city of balanzans, he served at the Sévaré agency in 2016. He was kind enough to give an interview to the newspaper Segou-Tignè.

Ségou Tignè: Mr. Kaba, what are the benefits or advantages that your many customers have derived from the bank since it opened here in Ségou?

Mr. Kaba: You should know that the first concern, the first objective of any bank, is to safeguard the interests of its customers. But I hasten to tell you that the concept of benefits varies according to the status of each client: employee or self-employed. As for the employees, the bank has agreed to a large profit to put them at ease and in appropriate conditions. This, as a result, allows them to benefit from loans for the purchase of adequate equipment or at most a construction that meets their ambition. In addition to this, they are provided with cash facilities called overdrafts that allow them to compensate for certain unforeseen events before salary. As for the peasants, it is worth reminding you that the BNDA in its first conception was first of all to support the peasants by equipping them with agricultural equipment and by financing their multiple activities. The bank is still faithful to this credo. We support the rural world in the purchase of stock, in the execution of contracts. All this helps to grow their business. In Ségou, there are many agricultural activities and as such, we are  alongside village associations, alongside women's groups. In short, it is to say that at the BNDA, everyone draws a good account and it will always be so because the customer is king.

Ségou Tigné: Mr. Branch Manager, among the banking institutions in Ségou, you have the largest number of customers. What satisfaction does this give you?

Mr. Kaba: The largest number of customers! Um, I doubt it, but if it is, let it always be so. My satisfaction, the satisfaction of the entire BNDA, is the merit recognized to all the agents who serve there. It shows that customers trust us and that we always need to do more for them. It is an encouragement to surpass ourselves for the sole well-being of these men and women who have placed their trust in us. Another satisfaction is the good collaboration but above all the good fraternity that binds us to these customers. However, the customer who comes to the bank comes there as if he is with his family, at home.

Ségou Tignè: Sir, as head of the BNDA agency, what are your disappointments?

Mr. Kaba: None. No disappointment so far, neither with customers nor with agents. Ségou is a region where there is a lot of activity and this makes our agency growing. Here, compared to a certain place I left, we collect more deposits, more credits and there are more achievements. May the people of Ségou, may the clientele of Ségou be warmly thanked.

Ségou Tignè: With the BCEAO sanctions following the overthrow of the IBK regime, what are the harmful consequences for your customers? 

Mr. Kaba: You know, no Malian banker can be happy with these sanctions that destabilize our clients. I can understand that there is a closure to secure the assets of the banks, but it is an abuse because the customer is not responsible for the situation that prevails. I think, in my humble opinion, that regime  change should not be  linked to the monetary aspect. To tell a customer who has his deposit at the bank and that he cannot  use it because of this sanction is really unfair. Let us bet that this will end quickly and that a consensual decision will prevail among the major decision-makers. If civil servants are not currently affected by these sanctions because salaries and pensions are made. The torment is the entrepreneurs, the economic operators who are subject to another transaction regime.

Ségou Tigné: The last word.

Mr. Kaba: I thank from the bottom of my heart all our clients without whom the BNDA agency in Ségou would not be what it is. I would also like to thank all my collaborators, that is to say all the agents who work tirelessly in unison   so that our agency is always more efficient. We are a family for the same purpose. As for you from the segou-Tignè newspaper, receive my thanks and encouragement for this noble and difficult mission of giving the real information.