The Bank of Ghana has announced a major reform in the rural banking sector, converting all existing Rural Banks into Community Banks under its Revised Microfinance Sector Framework, 2026.

The move means that Rural Banks across the country will now operate as Community Banks, marking a new phase in Ghana’s community-level banking and financial inclusion agenda.

In a statement issued on June 17, 2026, the Bank of Ghana said the affected banks are expected to complete all statutory name changes, corporate rebranding, and other regulatory requirements by the end of December 2026.

According to the central bank, the conversion forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the microfinance sector and repositioning the former rural banking subsector to better serve communities across the country.

The timing of the reform also coincides with the 50th anniversary of rural banking in Ghana. Rural banking was introduced in 1976 by the Government of Ghana and the Bank of Ghana to expand access to financial services in rural communities and bring more people into the formal financial system.

Over the past five decades, the sector has grown into an important part of Ghana’s banking industry, playing a key role in financial inclusion, especially among underserved communities.

The Bank of Ghana noted that the subsector currently has 147 licensed institutions, about 1,000 branches nationwide, and serves more than eight million customers.

It said the growth of the sector has been supported by policy backing, a development-focused regulatory approach, and the strong relationship these banks have built with the communities they serve.

With the conversion to Community Banks, the Bank of Ghana said it is seeking to create a more modern and inclusive banking segment that can support financial access not only in rural areas, but also in urban and peri-urban communities.

The central bank said the reform is expected to deepen inclusive finance and better integrate community-based banking institutions into Ghana’s broader financial system.