Agora Microfinance Zambia Wins Big at Zambia’s National Banking and Finance Awards 2025

 

Agora Microfinance Zambia (AMZ) is proud to announce a triple victory at the 2025 Banking & Finance Awards – Zambia, a night that celebrated excellence, innovation, and leadership in the financial sector. AMZ walked away with three prestigious awards: 

• 🏆 Best Non-Bank Financial Institution (NBFI) Customer Service 

• 🏆 Best NBFI Digital Brand of the Year 

• 🏆 Financial Inclusion – Rural Aspect (NBFI) 

What makes this recognition even more meaningful is that two-thirds of the scoring came directly from the public vote. This is not just industry acknowledgment, but a resounding message from clients and non-clients alike who believe in AMZ’s mission to break barriers to finance and build inclusive growth across Zambia. 

 

Putting People at the Heart of Service 

For AMZ, winning the Customer Service Award is especially humbling. It reflects what we believe is the true heartbeat of financial inclusion: people. Beyond products, systems, and processes, what sets AMZ apart is the quality of relationships, trust, and care that our teams bring to every client interaction. 

With 40 branches, 8 satellite offices, and more than 140,000 clients — most in rural areas — AMZ’s service goes far beyond urban centers. From Senanga to Kaputa, Zambezi to Chama, our staff are on the ground daily, reaching communities where financial access was once unthinkable. 

This award validates what we say every day: at AMZ, we deliver value beyond the transaction. Our clients are not just account numbers — they are partners in a shared journey of growth and empowerment. 

 

Technology as a Bridge 

Recognition as the Best NBFI Digital Brand is another highlight of the evening. In an era where technology is transforming how people access finance, AMZ has been deliberate about designing and implementing digital-first solutions that meet the realities of Zambia’s underserved communities. 

Whether through USSD, the Digital Field Application (DFA), or data-driven insights, AMZ uses technology to bridge the financial divide and ensure that even the remotest client can access affordable, safe, and convenient financial services. 

As our CEO Susan Chibanga emphasized in her remarks: 

“We are deliberate about leveraging technology to advance financial inclusion, ensuring that even the remotest client can conveniently access affordable financial services.” 

 

Financial Inclusion at the Core 

Winning the Financial Inclusion – Rural Aspect Award highlights the very foundation of AMZ’s existence. Since inception, AMZ has remained committed to reaching the most marginalized and underserved communities — those often overlooked by mainstream financial institutions. 

As Mrs. Chibanga powerfully stated: 

“Financial inclusion is only real when it reaches the most remote corners of Zambia, and that is where AMZ is deeply rooted.” 

This recognition is not only about where AMZ operates, but also how. By tailoring financial products to the realities of rural communities, AMZ ensures that financial services are not a privilege for the few, but a right for all. 

 

Acknowledgments 

AMZ extends its gratitude to the Zambia Institute of Banking & Financial Services (ZIBFS) for providing this platform to celebrate industry excellence, and to the independent judges and auditors for ensuring credibility, fairness, and transparency throughout the awards process. 

Most importantly, AMZ says thank you to the Zambian public for their overwhelming support. Because two-thirds of the decision came from public votes, this victory belongs to the people who stood with us — our clients, partners, communities, and even non-clients who saw value in our mission. 

To our 500+ staff members across Zambia, this is your victory too. Your resilience, dedication, and innovation have made AMZ not just an institution, but a movement for inclusion. 

 

Looking Ahead 

These three awards are both a celebration and a responsibility. They reaffirm AMZ’s commitment to: 

• Delivering outstanding customer service at every touchpoint 

• Driving digital innovation that expands access and efficiency 

• Deepening financial inclusion in underserved and rural communities 

• Embedding our philosophy of “value beyond the transaction” in everything we do 

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain grounded in our mission: breaking barriers to finance, one community at a time. With the support of our clients, partners, staff, and the Zambian public, the journey continues — and the future is full of possibility.