MPUMALANGA’S first rural-based bank will be officially opened to residents of Schoemansdal tribal trust south of Malelane on Wednesday. The Schoemansdal Village Bank is the fifth rural bank opened in South Africa. Four other banks are already operating in North-West Province, while 25 others are still to established nationwide in the next 18 months. Chairman for the Schoemansdal Village Bank, Ernest Sibiya, said on Tuesday the bank has over 100 shareholders at the moment who bought their shares at R10 each.