The Mastercard Foundation’s FIRST+II program, implemented by CapitalPlus Exchange (CapPlus), is moving Ghana’s rural banks from incremental progress to bold, structural change. The Long-Term Transformation (LTT) initiative is more than a technical intervention; it is a comprehensive rewiring of institutions to unlock finance for entrepreneurs who fuel local economies but often remain excluded, including women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, and smallholder farmers.

Seven rural banks have been chosen as high-impact pioneers for this journey. They are not just participants, they are change agents, ready to reimagine their role in delivering inclusive finance at scale.

At the heart of this shift is the Long-Term Transformation Specialist (LTS), embedded in each bank for 12 months. With support from FIRST+II and oversight from CDC Consult, these specialists will drive the pilots and scaling up of unsecured MSME lending models to break the cycle of collateral-heavy banking that has shut out thousands of capable entrepreneurs.

But transformation cannot be outsourced. Each institution must invest its own financial, human, and managerial resources before beginning, ensuring ownership and embedding change at the bank's core. This is not a project; it is a commitment to a new future.

Momentum is already strong. Five banks have been formally engaged, with three having confirmed participation, and additional banks are preparing to join. Together, they represent a wave of institutions choosing to evolve from cautious lenders to engines of local growth and resilience.

Through Long-Term Transformation, the Mastercard Foundation’s FIRST+II program, implemented by CapPlus, is ensuring that rural banks are not only stronger today but are equipped to deliver inclusive growth for decades to come.