Tracing its roots to 1967, when the Tanzanian Government nationalised financial institutions, National Bank of Commerce Tanzania (NBC) is one of the most capitalised banks in the country with an asset base of in excess of $733m. In 2000 it became a subsidiary of Barclays Africa (then known as Absa Group Limited), following its acquisition by the group.

In 2016 NBC hired Doxa Mbapila, a lawyer who had previously amassed over a decade’s worth of experience in financial services, to support the bank’s growth efforts. At present Mbapila’s role focuses on providing legal advice to NBC’s network of 55 branches scattered around most major towns and cities in the country, as well as supporting general lending, project and infrastructure finance transactional work.

Prior to her role at NBC, Mbapila worked as a chairperson of the legal committee of the Tanzania Bankers Association. Her prior career also features general counsel/ head of legal positions at leading financial institutions in the country, namely Citibank Tanzania, Ecobank Tanzania and Stanbic Bank. She also worked briefly as a legal counsel at BG International and IMMMA Advocates Tanzania.