Bank Windhoek is expanding into those rural areas where other banks fear to tread as it opened a community branch in the remote village of Aranos in the Hardap Region this week Monday. The branch offers a comprehensive range of banking products and services to the community of Aranos including an ATM. The branch is situated on the corner of Main/Hospital Street, is equipped with a sophisticated security system to ensure the safety of clients while they are in the bank or use the ATM. This is the sixth branch Bank Windhoek opened as part of its expansion policy: first at Noordoewer in November 2003, Eenhana in December 2003, Outapi in August 2004, Opuwo in December 2004, and Okakarara in August 2005. This expansion has been partly funded by the British Government, through its Department for International Development (DFID) as part of its Financial Deepening Challenge Fund (FDCF). The official opening of Bank Windhoek’s Aranos branch by Hardap Governor Katrina Hansen is on Wednesday, 22 February. The bank manager of the Aranos branch is Renier Els at 063-276 800 or fax to 063-272 351.