IslamicFinance.de

First National Bank of #Botswana is re-launching products and service offering to the local Muslim community. Held at the Travel Lodge Conference Centre in Gaborone, the re-launch seeks to sensitize patrons and attract new customers. FNB Botswana CEO, Steven Bogatsu, said the re-launch has been long coming since the product was launched ten years ago in 2007. According to FNBB Islamic Banking Representative, Tahera Mhaisker, the offered services encompass transactional banking, vehicle and asset financing, as well as property finance for both residential and commercial properties. Mhaisker added that the re-launch was the culmination of an exciting journey for the bank.

In #SouthAfrica First National Bank (FNB) has been offering an Islamic home loan since the beginning of the year. The product is aimed at Muslims who want to finance their homes in a manner consistent with the requirements of their faith. But, like all Islamic financial products and services, it is open to everyone. FNB Islamic Banking’s home loan is not strictly a loan. It is modelled on what is known as a diminishing musharaka type of financial transaction. Amman Muhammad, the chief executive of FNB Islamic Banking, says the main advantage of the Islamic home loan is that it offers a competitive fixed-price deal in volatile economic conditions. Also offering Islamic residential property financing is the local arm of the international Al Baraka Bank.

In #South Africa First National Bank (FNB), Al Baraka and HBZ Bank are the only financial institutions offering Islamic banking services. These banks offer a range of Islamic cheque accounts, Islamic savings accounts and Islamic investment accounts as well as vehicle, property and asset finance. CEO of FNB Islamic Banking Amman Muhammad says the bank has seen a consistent rise in the number of South Africans taking up the bank’s transactional banking and investment, vehicle and property finance products irrespective of faith. Customers are looking for an alternative banking form and FNB can offer a principles-based approach. Muhammad says the normal regulatory and risk rules apply to all Islamic banking products.