Moza Banco proposes joint strategies to expand access to financial services in the country

More than one hundred children from the country’s three regions recently benefited from food products, toys and other goods donated by Moza, as part of initiatives carried out to provide a dignified Christmas for those most in need.

With its epicentre in the southern region of the country, the initiative known as Solidarity Christmas also reached the BETEL Provincial Orphanage in Nampula and the Melanie Orphanage in the city of Beira.

In the south, the Bank visited two health facilities, namely the Quissico Rural Hospital in Inhambane and the Matola Provincial Hospital, which served as the main venue for the Solidarity Christmas celebrations.

In Matola, more than 70 children admitted to the paediatric ward of that health unit for various medical conditions enjoyed a special morning, receiving toys and food products and socialising with Bank employees during a snack prepared for the occasion.

At the same event, Moza Banco Executive Committee Member Jaime Joaquim explained the meaning of Solidarity Christmas for the Moza family, stressing that “above all, it is a time for sharing, hope and love. It is these small gestures that help us build a great Christmas, one that is more humane and more supportive.”

On behalf of the children, parents and Matola Provincial Hospital as a whole, the Director of the health unit, Ana Rodrigues, stated that “Moza’s initiative goes far beyond the delivery of gifts, symbolising closeness, empathy and a commitment to the well-being of the population.” She also highlighted the need to strengthen inter-institutional partnerships between the health sector and the private sector, with a view to promoting a fairer and more supportive society.

For the Moza family, it is only through gestures of solidarity and love for one’s neighbour that it is possible to celebrate a harmonious and joyful festive season, enabling Mozambicans to Win Together, even in times when obstacles seem to undermine the achievement of individual and collective goals.

Moza Banco has expressed its willingness to work with the State and other financial institutions in order to enable the implementation of strategies that foster innovation, inclusion and broader access to banking services in Mozambique.

This position was publicly reaffirmed on Wednesday in Maputo at the BFSI Conference – Mozambique Banking, Financial and Insurance, held this year under the theme Digital Transformation and an Interoperable Financial Ecosystem.

Invited to take part in the panel entitled “The Role of Electronic Wallets, Payment Platforms, Insurance, Pension Funds and Digital Credit Instruments in Strengthening Economic Inclusion and Reducing Informality”, Stélio Matias, Director of Information Technology Systems at Moza Bank, emphasised the importance of bringing together sector-wide synergies that enable not only process simplification, but above all the ongoing security of customers.

“At a time when rapid technological growth is shaping future dynamics, significantly influenced by the advent of artificial intelligence, Moza Banco views the financial sector as one of those most in need of innovation, particularly due to its sensitivity and the need for continuous protection of customer data,” said Matias.

On the same occasion, the speaker highlighted the steps the Bank has been taking in terms of innovation, notably improvements to its processes and operating systems, with a view to ensuring that customers have increasingly efficient services available to meet their needs.

As one of the country’s five largest banks, with one of the widest branch networks nationwide, Moza continues to consolidate its contribution to the market at various levels, particularly in terms of growth in customer numbers, transactions and innovations.

By opening its doors to work with public and private partners, including competing entities, the Bank believes this will further benefit Mozambicans, ensuring that the country has banking services of excellence that are internationally competitive.

Three children from Santa Luísa de Marilac School, in Chókwè district, Gaza province, saw their talent recognised and rewarded through a writing competition promoted by the Non-Governmental Organisation Um Pequeno Gesto (UPG), with the support of Moza Banco. The initiative aimed to encourage the development of writing and critical thinking skills from an early age.

Created under the motto “Knowing How to Dream of Tomorrow”, the competition challenged children to produce texts on the importance of saving — not only money, but also finite resources such as water, energy and paper — in line with the recent celebration of World Savings Day.

With more than 50 texts submitted, the podium was entirely composed of girls whose work conveyed the message of the competition in an exemplary manner: Dinalva Chaúque, Edvânia Mutisse and Clarência Novela, who won first, second and third place respectively.

More than the monetary prize, the three pupils succeeded, through their writings, in inspiring the entire school community, conveying messages of hope and confidence in a better future.

According to Sara Barreto, President and Founder of UPG, “the children showed great interest in issues related to saving and valuing resources. We want them to learn, from a young age, that saving is believing in a better future. This competition is a way of inspiring them to dream and to turn those dreams into great achievements.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Executive Commission (PCE) of Moza Banco stressed that the initiative forms part of the “Knowing How to Dream of Tomorrow” project, through which the Bank promotes educational and artistic activities focused on saving and sustainability, complemented by support actions for school-age children.

“The project began last year with the creation of a children’s theatre play that is being presented throughout the country. At the same time, we have been donating school supplies to ensure that children do not give up studying due to a lack of resources. We have already delivered more than 1,500 kits across the country’s three regions, and we want to continue Making It Happen, reaching more and more Mozambican communities,” explained the PCE.

Founded in 2004, UPG has supported several communities in Gaza province, promoting the improvement of living conditions for children and families. Since 2019, the project has benefited from the support of Moza Banco, impacting more than one thousand children.

The 19 de Outubro Primary School, located in the Estevel community in the Boane municipality, was recently included in the Saber Sonhar o Amanhã (“Dream Tomorrow”) project, implemented by Moza Banco since last year. Hundreds of underprivileged children benefited from a variety of school supplies donated by the bank, aimed at fostering their interest in education despite the various social and economic obstacles that hinder their continued schooling.

The initiative was carried out as part of the World Savings Day celebrations, which took place on 31 October.

During its visit to the Estevel community, the bank delivered a talk on money and the importance of saving, ensuring that children develop a basic understanding of financial concepts from an early age. The activity included interactive moments and prizes for the students who best answered questions on the topic.

According to Jaime Joaquim, Member of the Executive Committee of Moza Banco, combining the donation of school kits with the introduction of basic financial education concepts to young children helps foster a mindset of prosperity that can serve as a foundation for a better future.

“As a bank that is part of the community, we also want to be part of the solution. Last year alone, we donated over a thousand school kits to primary schools and centres supporting vulnerable people in the central and northern regions of the country, while also delivering talks on financial education and saving. Our primary goal is for these children to ‘Dream Tomorrow’. The feedback we have received confirms that our project is making a real impact. For this reason, we will continue to invest in this initiative,” stated Jaime Joaquim.

The Headteacher of 19 de Outubro Primary School, Maria Alcinda Mandlate, praised Moza Banco’s initiative, saying, “It comes at a crucial moment and serves to motivate our students further. Our children already show an understanding of what it means to save, which is an enormous gain,” she added.

For Moza Banco, this represented yet another institutional opportunity to emphasise a sense of belonging, support those in greatest need, and promote equal opportunities in Mozambique. The bank assures that it will continue to Make Things Happen through initiatives that contribute to building an ever-better society.

Moza Banco presents financing opportunities to over 100 Mozambican entrepreneurs

Moza Banco recently participated in the Entrepreneur Forum held in Maputo, an event that brought together public and private sector entities with the aim of discussing opportunities and challenges related to the emerging business landscape in Mozambique.

During the event, the Bank addressed more than a hundred young entrepreneurs interested in strengthening their knowledge about financing methodologies within the national banking system, with a particular focus on subsidised credit lines designed to support business growth.

Representing Moza, Amâncio Zita presented the range of financing solutions available for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Bank, highlighting credit lines specifically aimed at the agribusiness sector. Special emphasis was placed on the FECOP - Portuguese Cooperation Business Fund, FIDA - International Fund for Agricultural Development, and FSA - Food Security Fund.

The FSA, in particular, is targeted at small entrepreneurs, individuals and companies within the agribusiness sector, supporting key needs across the value chain. This includes the production of crops contributing to food security, marketing activities, storage and processing of agricultural products, animal production, and the provision of support services to the agricultural sector. For individuals, financing amounts range from MZN 240,000 to MZN 2,500,000, while companies can access funding from a minimum of MZN 1,500,000 up to MZN 30,000,000. Interest rates do not exceed 14%, with repayment terms varying between 6 and 60 months.

In addition to presenting opportunities developed internally by the Bank, Moza also highlighted other financing lines offered in partnership with external entities, notably the Public Fund for Agricultural Development and Rural Extension, which targets the southern and central regions of the country.

There was also an opportunity to present the EIB Line, through which Moza provides €10 million from the European Investment Bank at subsidised rates, primarily to finance projects promoting gender equity, with a focus on women-led initiatives.

Specifically, the EIB Line offers treasury and investment support products, with financing amounts ranging from MZN 200,000 to MZN 5,000,000. Associated interest rates do not exceed 15% and may vary depending on the amount, duration, or client profile.

The financing lines available at Moza can be accessed at any of the Bank’s branches. Interested parties are encouraged to visit their nearest branch to obtain all the necessary information for their loan applications.

Organised by Anita Corporation under the “Emerging Enterprise” programme, the forum brought together both public and private institutions, including the Mozambican Tax Authority, the National Institute of Social Security, and the Mozambique Stock Exchange.

With this strategic participation, Moza once again reaffirms its commitment to supporting national entrepreneurship, Making It Happen by financing business projects that foster the country’s development.

A total of 23 national companies were recently honoured with the FaMoza Seal, an award created to recognise entities that stand out most in their relationship with Moza. These are institutions distinguished based on their Financial Engagement, use of POS terminals, and utilisation of Moza’s digital platforms, making the Bank an indispensable partner in their day-to-day operations.

Among the awarded companies are Uteka Construções, Instituto Nília, Moz Phama, and 20 other companies operating across the three regions of the country.

The recipients agree that the recognition encourages them to continue investing in Moza Banco. “Moza Banco has proven to be a partner for our businesses, ensuring that we can meet our commitments to clients and suppliers with all the necessary reliability. This award helps us understand that the feeling of trust is mutual,” said the entrepreneurs during the official FaMoza Seal award ceremony held in Maputo.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Manuel Soares, the FaMoza seal is part of a broad movement of “innovation and market proximity, through which the Bank seeks to recognise and encourage adherence to good practices within the national business sector.”

“With these innovations, the Bank strengthens its role, not only as a provider of financial services but as an active partner in promoting entrepreneurship, formalising the economy, and combating poverty. By rewarding entrepreneurs for their financial engagement with the Bank, and their use of digital tools and POS, Moza Banco demonstrates that it is an ally to those who Make the Necessary Changes to improve Mozambique’s economic paradigm,” Manuel Soares said.

As this was the first edition of the FaMoza Seal award, Moza Banco assures the continuation of the initiative, encouraging all its clients and potential clients to increase their transaction levels with the bank, making full use of all the products and services the bank offers.

Moza Banco, in a strategic partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), has just announced the launch of the EIB Line, a financing package worth 10 million euros, specifically designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises led by women.

This initiative, anchored in the Moza Women project, reinforces Moza Banco’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and gender equality, putting into practice its corporate values of Integrity, Resilience, Winning Together, and Ambition.

With favourable credit conditions, Moza Banco aims, through the EIB Line, to overcome the barriers that often hinder women’s access to financial resources, encouraging investment, business expansion, and consolidation.

To benefit from this financing, businesses must demonstrate strong female representation, whether in shareholding, management, workforce, or through products and services that promote women’s empowerment. The credit is available for sectors such as industry, transport, agriculture, health, and services, thereby increasing the economic and social impact of this initiative.

“We have embraced the mission of making a difference every day, contributing to Mozambique’s success. The EIB Line, created in partnership with the European Investment Bank, is more than financial support – it is a movement for empowerment that places women at the heart of economic and social development,” stated the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Moza Banco. He added, “The EIB Line is aligned with Moza’s vision of being the best Mozambican banking experience, one that everyone is proud to be part of.”

Furthermore, still under the umbrella of the Moza Women project, the Bank revealed that, in addition to offering women-focused products, it is also establishing partnerships with women-led businesses, offering competitive discounts to all customers who make purchases or payments using Moza cards.

With this initiative, Moza Banco reaffirms its role as an active agent in creating opportunities, generating positive impact, and building an inclusive economy where everyone can grow and prosper.

Moza Trains Over 6,000 National Entrepreneurs in Business Management

In the first half of this year, Moza has trained over 6,000 national entrepreneurs from across the country in business management.

This free initiative forms part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to support the development of National Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The training programme and thematic plan were developed and delivered virtually through a platform created in partnership with Fundação Dom Cabral, a renowned Brazilian institution recognised as one of the world’s leading business schools.

In addition to the 6,000 entrepreneurs already trained, the Bank has registered a further 1,500 participants, who are expected to begin training soon, aiming to acquire essential tools to improve the functioning of their businesses, particularly in terms of organisation and financial management.

During the pilot phase of the project, which began last year, the Bank trained around 50 companies from various sectors, including technology, pharmaceuticals, printing, security, supply, catering, and stationery.

For the participants, the initiative addresses one of their key needs. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn how to manage and develop plans that allow us to build a future for our businesses,” they noted.

According to Manuel Soares, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Moza Banco, the training aims to address a challenge that often hinders the development of Mozambican SMEs.

“Many national entrepreneurs still struggle with financial management, and it is common, for example, to confuse revenue with profit. Revenue is the total amount the business generates, whereas profit is what remains after all expenses are deducted. Without this basic understanding, it becomes difficult to achieve prosperity. That is why we have partnered with FDC to develop training programmes that help national entrepreneurs grasp this and other key concepts essential for business success,” explained Manuel Soares.

This is yet another Moza Banco initiative implemented as part of its commitment to national economic development, by empowering those who are driving positive change in the country.

By introducing this project in Mozambique, the Bank brings to life one of its core values — “Winning Together” — through which Moza works alongside national economic agents for the ultimate benefit of the national economy.