Group photo of Housing Finance Bank representatives and Agent Bankers following the HFB Agent Banking Forum.
KAMPALA, Uganda: Housing Finance Bank (HFB) has stepped up efforts to strengthen its agent banking network, equipping more than 150 agent bankers in Kampala with skills, business solutions and practical tools to improve service delivery and expand access to financial services.
The Bank held the HFB Agent Banking Forum at Imperial Royale Hotel, bringing together agents and Bank representatives to discuss emerging trends, opportunities and challenges in the agent banking sector.
The engagement focused on strengthening agents’ businesses, improving customer experience and ensuring that customers can access reliable banking services within their communities.
A key focus of the forum was HFB’s Super Agent Model, which is designed to strengthen agent operations while providing access to liquidity support through a nationwide network of super agents.
The model is intended to help agents remain operational and better positioned to meet customer needs without service interruptions.
Ronald Namawa, Manager Agent Banking at HFB, said the Super Agent Model is central to the Bank’s strategy of building a stronger and more resilient agent banking network.
“Our Super Agent Model is built on collaboration. By working together with our agents and super agents, we are strengthening our network, improving service reliability, and bringing banking services even closer to the communities we serve,” he said.
Some top performing agents awarded during the event.
The forum also placed emphasis on responsible banking and customer data protection, with agents receiving guidance on data privacy and compliance with Uganda’s data protection laws.
Stanislaus Ssendagire, HFB’s Data Protection Officer, urged agents to strengthen their handling of customer information and comply with requirements set out under the country’s data protection framework.
“As HFB, we continue to collaborate with our agents to ensure compliance with data protection laws, including registration with the Personal Data Protection Office. Agents are encouraged to register online and obtain the required certificates to avoid penalties associated with unauthorized disclosure, destruction, or sale of personal data,” Ssendagire said.
HFB also introduced customised insurance solutions aimed at protecting agents against business risks, including theft. The solutions are intended to provide agents with additional protection as they continue to serve customers in their communities.
The agents were further taken through HFB’s range of financial solutions, covering microfinance, business and institutional banking, mortgages and consumer banking.
Richard Bob Sema, Manager Incremental Housing Loans at HFB, said the agent network plays an important role in taking these solutions closer to customers.
“Through the Agent Banking network, these solutions continue to reach more customers, making banking services more accessible and convenient across communities,” he noted.
The forum also provided a platform for agents to share their experiences and engage directly with the Bank on issues affecting their businesses. Discussions covered the future of agent banking, business growth, customer service and ways of strengthening collaboration between HFB, its agents and super agents.
Agents also welcomed the Bank’s continued support through competitive commissions, capacity-building initiatives and business solutions aimed at strengthening their operations.
The engagement is part of HFB’s broader efforts to build a knowledgeable, resilient and empowered agent network capable of responding to changing customer needs while extending secure and convenient banking services beyond traditional branches.
Through its agent banking network, HFB continues to use partnerships with local businesses and communities to bring financial services closer to more Ugandans and contribute to the country’s financial inclusion agenda.
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