Joseph Isangura
CRDB Bank has concluded the year 2025 on a high note after six customers emerged winners in the final draw of its SimBanking campaign, a nationwide promotion aimed at strengthening the use of digital banking services across Tanzania.
The end-of-year draw brought together customers from different regions, reflecting the rapid growth of technology-driven financial services in both urban and rural communities. Speaking during the announcement, CRDB Bank’s Head of Personal Banking, Stephen Adili, said the winners were selected through a transparent process based on consistent and active use of the SimBanking platform, which continues to redefine how customers interact with modern banking systems.
The campaign’s top prize, a Toyota Harrier Anaconda, was won by Deo Ferdinand Mlawa, a resident of Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam. Another major winner, Desderius Douglas Magombola from Meru District in Arusha Region, drove away with a Toyota IST New Model, becoming the sixth customer to receive the same model since the campaign began earlier in the year.
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Adili said both vehicles would be handed over fully insured and fueled, allowing the winners to take immediate possession without additional costs. He described the Toyota Harrier Anaconda as the flagship reward of the 2025 campaign, reserved for customers who demonstrated sustained engagement with the bank’s digital platforms.The Toyota IST New Model awards were released at two-month intervals, a structure the bank said was designed to encourage long-term participation rather than short-term activity. According to the bank, this strategy has significantly boosted the adoption of mobile banking technology, which remains a critical tool for expanding financial access worldwide.
Education support also featured prominently in the final draw. Two students were awarded full tuition sponsorships for their upcoming academic terms. Happiness Justine Chacha, a student at the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute, and John Simon Soka from the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, will have their education costs fully covered by the bank.
In addition, two other university students, Maimartha Haji Seleman of Keko and Felix Geofrey Sembwana, both from Dar es Salaam, won iPhone 17 Pro Max smartphones. The bank said the inclusion of technology-focused prizes reflects the growing reliance on smartphones as essential tools for accessing financial services.
Adili said the wide range of prizes offered throughout 2025 was meant to ensure inclusivity, allowing customers from different backgrounds to benefit. He added that CRDB Bank views digital innovation as central to convenience, efficiency, and broader participation in the financial system.
