Problems And Prospects Of Community Banks In The Rural Development

The community banking scheme has been in operation since December 1990, and has to a large extent achieved its objectives as a vehicle for poverty alleviation at the grassroots’ level. With about 1000 unit community banks and hundreds of thousands of customers, the banking habit has reasonably increased in the rural areas.
The poor farmers, cattle rears, fisher men and artisans who might not have collateral but are hardworking could get loans from their community banks for productive activities thereby boasting the gross domestic products of the country. Since government encouraged the communities to invest in community banks, the scheme should be supported to succeed. It is cheaper way of sustainable development of the rural areas in the short, medium and long term.
However, in examining the problems and prospects of the community bank in the rural development of Nigeria, some prepared Questionnaire were distributed to Ogui Urban Community Bank of Nigeria Ltd. staff in Enugu. Information received from the responses were supplemented with oral interview, personal observation and the review of some related books and journals.
The responses from the returned questionnaire were analyzed and the result of the analysis were later converted into table percentages.
Recommendation were made based on information obtained and some literature reviewed.
Finally, conclusion was drawn on the topic studied.