The brand new TISA bank, after receiving its commercial banking license exactly two months ago, is ready to open the doors to its first branch this month after next week. This was revealed by TISA bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Sunit Pakharel during the official launching of the new TISA bank logo last night at the TISA Haus in Port Moresby city. After giving his keynote address at the launching, PNG HAUSBUNG had a chat with the CEO, where he revealed the plan that is already in motion to the opening of TISA's first bank branch in Papua New Guinea. Mr. Pakharel confirmed that the first branch to open will be the one in Port Moresby city. It will open to the public on Monday 21st October following the inauguration which should take place three days before that on Friday 18th October. "We will be starting our operation for Port Moresby branch then move to two more regions, then to other places," said the CEO. "So, well be starting from Waigani branch on the 21st and within a month's time, we'll be up and running from Lae, Mt Hagen and then Kokopo. That's the plan for TISA." He further revealed that TISA has over 10 branches throughout the country of its Saving and Loans parent company, which would eventually serve as bank branches. "We already have 17 branches and we're going to provide the banking operations from all these branches and even the customers can go and start opening accounts from 21st, but cash transactions is going to be provided after some time," Mr. Pakharel explained. TISA bank is set to roll out its banking service with also over 150 banking staff already in place with recruitment going on as well for more people to staff its branches as the bank opens more of its new branches in the country. "We're getting more people because all savings and loans staff are going to work as bank staff, so soon we are going to raise almost 400 plus staff in the branches as well as the head office." He said by the end of 2025, they are going to have almost 500 to 600 staff in all the branches that they are going to have. "We're creating job opportunities for the people," the CEO happily said. "In fact, we already started hiring fresh graduates ( from colleges and universities) and we are providing the training as well and it's very, very successful and we are quite excited with that." "We already had almost 30, 40 people. We're hiring more people and we are going to train them, that's the plan." Meantime, TISA bank's new logo is a bilum with its colours green and gold. The launching of the new logo also marked exactly two months the Bank of Papua New Guinea approved and issued TISA's commercial banking license, which was on August 5th, 2024.