What are Treasury Bills/Notes?
Treasury bills/notes (T-Bills) are short term money market instruments issued by Bank of Ghana(BOG) on its own account or on behalf of the Government of Ghana (GOG).This is a common method used by governments to borrow money from citizens for development purposes.

Who Can Buy Treasury Bills?

Buying and selling of treasury bills/notes is open to all Ghanaian citizens,institutions and foreign residents in Ghana and abroad. However acquisition of Forex for repatriation of funds is not guaranteed.

What Are The Types Of T-Bills Available?

With the introduction of the weekly wholesale auction, available instruments will be advertised in the national papers. Currently, the available instruments are the 91 day and 182 day treasury bills, as well as 1 year note. These may be purchased with a minimum amount of GH¢500. Treasury bills/notes may be bought on the primary or secondary market. Also available are the following shorter terms bills issued by Databank on it’s own account: 7 Day, 28 Day, 42 Day, 56 Day and 84 Day. These may be purchased with a minimum amount of GHC¢100.

How Do I Purchase Treasury Bills/Notes On The Primary Market?

Under the new system, effective October 6,1997 individuals will not be allowed to buy directly from BOG but from a Primary Distribution (PD) such as Databank Brokerage Limited. You can contact either our Accra Office or Kumasi Office with two passport sized photos, driver's license, passport or voters ID. You will fill an application form indicating the amount you wish to buy and type of instrument. Databank Brokerage Limited will then do the purchase on your behalf and advice you immediately upon successful completion. As a PD, Databank is licensed to buy and sell such securities on behalf of the general public. Databank has specialists who focus on providing very efficient and personalized fixed income services to our clients.

Databank as designated distributor:

• Shall be referred to as primary distributor(PD)
• Shall be eligible to participate in the weekly wholesale auction for the BOG or GOG securities or other elegible securities. The applied interest rate for the securities are determined at the auction.
• Will charge no fee or surcharge for services rendered purchasing either BOG or GOG bills/bonds.
• Will be allowed to participate in the BOG weekly auction on behalf of any investor buying in excess of GH¢10 thousand and multiples of GH¢1 thousand thereafter at the investor's preferred rate.

Will provide the following administrative services free of charge

1. forward detail advice slip after purchase
2. refund on maturity ( subject to your instruction
3. roll-over on maturity (subject to your instructions)
4. make available to you the broad rand of Databank's Research Bulletin on the ecomnomy and investments

Is There A Limit To The Amount Of Treasury Bills/Notes I Can Purchase?

No, there is no upper limit but a minimum amount of ¢50 face values is required for the purchase.

Do I Need To Open A Bank Account Before I Buy Treasury Bills/Notes?

No, There is no need for a bank account before you buy the bill or note from Databank.

Why Should I Invest In Treasury Bills And/Or Notes?

• You earn a fixed rate of interest which yields/gives a steady source of income.
• Treasury bills and notes are rated as "risk free".Returns are absolutely certain in monetary terms since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the BOG and GOG.
• The interest rate quoted, are attractive compared to the current savings rate .
• Traesuries can effectively be used as a collateral for a loan.
• Treasuries can easily be sold or discounted.
• Statements can be used when applying for visas.

How Do I Get Information ON MY INVESTMENT?

• A contract note showing the amount invested, the maturity value and the rate at which the bill was purchased will be mailed to you.
• You can also phone any of our branches or walk in to inquire.

Do I Have To Pay Fees For Services Rendered?

All services provided by Databank are free for BOG and GOG treasury investments (Databank receives a commision paid by the BOG).

What Added Service Do I Get?

• Forward detail advice slip after purchase.
• Refund on maturity (subject to your instructions)
• Roll-over on maturity (subject to your instructions)
• Make available to you the broad range of Databank's Research Bulletins on the economy and investment.

What Happens To My Investments At Maturity?

At maturity, Databank Brokerage Limited will instantly

• Credit your account with the full value of your investment.
• On instruction, will re-invest (roll over) your investment immediately
• Will transfer accrued interest to your bank account or alternatively issue a cheque
• Will pay interest on maturity and reinvest the principal

Can I Change My Instructions?

Yes a minimum of 7 working days is required for any change of instruction before the maturity of a bill.