mwekez@ji wrote:Coop is mainly acting as a deposit taking agent for I&M High Networth Clients in the many areas where I&M doesn’t have a present. Coop gets agency fees. Arrangement is not reciprocatable. Maybe Coop will in future seek a reciprocate from I&M in countries like TZ, MU and RW where Coop doesn't have shops
Interesting arrangement. Seems a smart move by I&M but Co-op might (should) target those same customers! As for other countries, that is tough due to laws that govern cross-border transactions!
One cannot deposit/withdraw "directly" from KCB/I&M/NIC in Tanzania from a Kenyan account. You can use the ATM which charges a fee & a crazy conversion rate.
The arrangement could work if Co-op opens an office/subsidiary in RW where I&M's BCR is #3 thus 'shares' facilities similar to Kenya.
NIC using Postbank is a smarter move coz Postbank branches are widespread with little fear of poaching customers. I like DTB's move to use agents. NIC and I&M should do the same in areas where they have a retail presence or want to grow market share for deposits.
Greedy when others are fearful. Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase Warren Buffett