THE United Bank for Africa (UBA) Zambia will in the next five years invest more than KR15 million in its expansion programmes across the country.

UBA managing director Stanley Ugwueze said that the bank was focusing on growing both its physical presence and the customer base hence the setting aside of the US$3 million for expansion.

Mr Ugwueze said his bank would ensure that it grew its physical presence across the country adding that currently studies were being conducted on the possible opening of branches on the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces this year.

He said the UBA group was focusing on doubling its customer base with a projected target of six million across African.

"As a bank we want to grow our customer base and increase our physical presence across the country and this will be so because we will open up a number of branches in different towns across the country.

"We will in the next five years spend over US$3million towards the programme," he said.

Addressing journalists in Lusaka on Wednesday, Mr Ugwueze said growth for his bank was steady and that the targeted number of customers for this year would be surpassed as the bank would be more innovative.