Centenary Bank stands as a leading Commercial Microfinance Bank in Uganda, committed to enhancing lives through strategic initiatives and investments. With a strong belief in financial independence for all, the bank focuses on serving individuals, families, and businesses across the country and beyond. Established with a mission to provide accessible financial services to all people in Uganda, especially in rural areas, it plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion.
Fabian Kasi, Managing Director of Centenary Bank
A Journey from Credit Trust to Leading Bank
Centenary Bank's history dates back to 1983 when it started as a credit trust of the Uganda National Lay Apostolate. Operations began in 1985 with two main purposes: serving the rural poor and making a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of Uganda.
In 1993, the institution transitioned to Centenary Rural Development Bank Limited and was licensed as a full-service commercial bank. Today, Centenary Bank is Uganda’s leading Microfinance Bank with an asset base of UGX 4.7 trillion and serving 2.4 million customers.
The bank's success is derived from its ability to listen, understand, and respond to customer needs. Centenary Bank was established on a strong Catholic Church foundation and this is reflected in its ownership.
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Shareholders include:
- Catholic Dioceses of Uganda (Majority Shareholder)
- Uganda Catholic Secretariat
- SIDI (Solidarité Internationale pour le Développement et l'Investissement)
- Stichting Hivos-Triodos Fonds
- Triodos Custody B.V. (as custodian for Triodos Fair Share Fund)
- Triodos Sicav II (as custodian for Triodos Microfinance Fund)
- Individual Ugandan Shareholders
- Corporate Ugandan Shareholders
The bank was founded in 1983 as a credit trust, Centenary Rural Development Trust (CRDT), by Simeon Lutaakome, Hugh Francis Pulle, Paul Kateregga, Vincent Kirabo kya Maria, Emmanuel Mpande, and John Ogutu. In 1985, CRDT began to provide financial services to the public. The bank became a fully licensed commercial bank in 1993, after receiving a license from the Bank of Uganda.
Comprehensive Banking Services
Centenary Bank offers a wide range of banking services including deposit, savings, credit or loan and advances, as well as money transfer services. The bank offers a wide range of products and services including savings accounts, loans, business solutions, money transfers, insurance, and digital banking channels like CenteMobile and CenteAgent banking. Its products are tailor-made for various categories of customers, including Government, SMEs, Corporate and Individuals.
These services are accessible through various channels:
- 80 branches
- 193 ATMs
- Over 5,800 CenteAgents across the country
- CenteMobile banking
- CenteOnline banking
- CenteVisa debit & prepaid cards
- Mastercard Platinum debit card
Specialized Savings Accounts
Centenary Bank provides specialized savings accounts tailored to specific needs:
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CenteSACCO Savings Account
The CenteSACCO Savings account is a specialized savings account tailored to meet the needs of SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations).
- Minimum balance: UShs.
- Interest rates: Tiered rates based on account balances, starting at 3% p.a. for balances between UShs. 2M and UShs. 300M, increasing to 4% p.a. for balances above UShs. 300M up to UShs. 500M, and further increasing to 5% p.a. for balances exceeding UShs. 500M.
- Withdrawal charges: Vary based on the amount withdrawn, ranging from UShs. 6,000 to UShs.
- Required document: Copy of the SACCO bylaws.
CenteVSLA Savings Account
A CenteVSLA Savings account is a specialized savings account tailored for Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). The account is denominated in Uganda Shillings, with a minimum balance requirement of UShs. You will receive a statement of account monthly, providing you with a detailed record of your transactions and account balance.
Corporate Social Responsibility
At Centenary Bank, doing the right thing is at the heart of everything they do; from giving back to their community to building an all-inclusive workplace. Since the bank’s inception, they have consistently and deliberately dedicated time and resources to support their communities for sustainable development. Every year, they dedicate up to 1 per cent of the bank’s previous year’s after-tax profits towards Corporate Social Investment (CSI). This is in line with their corporate responsibility policy. To date, they have invested more than Ushs1 billion in their CSR programmes, over the last four years, and continue to do so year-on-year.
Centenary Group
In July 2020, Centenary Bank transitioned to Centenary Group. The Group is a public limited liability company comprising of a non-operating holding company and several subsidiaries.
As of October 2023, Centenary Group is involved in financial services, information and communications technology and the delivery of social services. At that time, the Group's assets were valued at UGX6.2 trillion (US$1.631 billion), with shareholders' equity in the group in excess of USh789.52 billion (US$222.78 million).
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Subsidiaries of Centenary Group:
- Centenary Rural Development Bank Limited (CRDBL)
- Centenary Technology Services Limited (Cente-Tech), an information and communications company responsible for the ICT functions within the group.
- Centenary Bank Malawi
Leadership and Operations
As of April 2025, Centenary Bank's leadership includes:
- Fabian Kasi - Managing Director
- Joseph Balikuddembe - Executive Director
- Godfrey Byekwaso - General Manager Finance
- Beatrice Lugalambi - General Manager Corporate Communications and Marketing
- Abdul Kyanika - General Manager Technology & Operations
- Michael Jjingo - General Manager Commercial Banking
- Immaculate Ngulumi - General Manager Human Resources
Centenary Bank's operations are primarily concentrated within Uganda, where it has an extensive nationwide network. While it does not have physical branches outside Uganda, it facilitates international transactions for its customers through correspondent banking relationships with various international banks. This enables services like international money transfers, trade finance, and foreign currency exchange, connecting Uganda to the global financial system.
The headquarters, Mapeera House, serves as the central hub for strategic decision-making, corporate governance, overall administration, and coordination of all banking operations nationwide. Mapeera House is named in honor of Fr. Siméon Lourdel, commonly known as Mapeera, a key figure in the Catholic Church's history in Uganda, reflecting the bank's foundational ties.
The work culture at Centenary Bank's headquarters is likely professional, customer-focused, and collaborative, driven by its mission of financial inclusion and community development. Emphasis is placed on ethical banking practices and innovation.
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