Rabobank Group

Banco Terra was established in 2008 to serve clients in urban and rural Mozambique. It aims to be the country’s leading food and agriculture bank, and to help alleviate poverty by providing access for all Mozambicans to affordable credit and financial services.

As one of its founders, Rabo Development has a 31 percent stake in Banco Terra and provides key management services and technical assistance.

Agriculture is the backbone of Mozambique’s economy, providing employment for over 75 percent of the workforce and contributing roughly a quarter of its GDP. However, only 10 percent of its arable land is in productive use.

Banco Terra wants to take the lead in developing the country’s vast agricultural potential by financing the growth of smallholder associations, and help improve their organisation, skills and expertise. Rabo Development is putting its agricultural knowhow to work to help Banco Terra achieve this goal.

Banco Terra opened its first branch in the capital, Maputo, and the second in the agriculturallyrich northern region. By 2010, its network had grown to nine branches. Achieving efficient distribution is key to Banco Terra’s strategy, as its branches are widely dispersed due to the size of the country. We are helping Banco Terra develop guarantees for rice and sugar cooperatives to ensure banking becomes more secure for these farmers. It is one of the few banks offering this
type of specialised finance in Mozambique.

Over 40 percent of Banco Terra’s clients are in the agricultural sector. It also wants to attract retail customers, SMEs and corporate clients, and is developing a full product range, as well as ATM coverage and mobile banking. Rabo Development consultants are supporting the bank as it continues to grow, with experienced advisors based in-house.

Website Banco Terra