Sector : Banks, Finance & Investments

National Microfinance Bank Plc (NMB) is one of the largest commercial banks in Tanzania, providing banking services to individuals, small to medium sized corporate clients, as well as large businesses.

It was established under the National Microfinance Bank Limited Incorporation Act of 1997, following the break-up of the old National Bank of Commerce, by an Act of parliament .Three new entities were created at the time, namely: NBC Holding Limited, National Bank of Commerce (1997) Limited and National Microfinance Bank Limited.

Initially NMB could only provide payment services as well as offer savings account, with limited lending capabilities, before becoming a fully-fledged universal retail bank.

In 2005, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania privatized the bank when it sold part of its shareholding (49%) to a consortium led by the Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. ('Rabobank Group').

Subsequently, there was further divestiture in 2008 when the Tanzanian Government off loaded another 21% of its shareholding to the Tanzanian public through an initial Public Offering(IPO).The listing of the bank's stock on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange has led to a diversified ownership structure.