By Staff reporter WINDHOEK More and more banks are responding to the Ministry of Finance’s appeal to make banking services available to the under- and unbanked population of Namibia. First National Bank has become the latest to introduce cellphone banking for its clients. The bank says considering the difficulties and exorbitant prices for clients in remote areas to travel long distances to their nearest branches and also to create fully-fledged branches, cellphone banking makes their lives easier. Last Friday, the bank launched its Cell Phone banking service for its clients who register with the service to enable clients to use their handsets to buy prepaid cellphone airtime, request account balances, obtain mini-statements, transfer money between accounts and make beneficiary payments. As from last Friday until June 30, FNB Cell Phone banking clients can access the following services for free: pre-paid top up air time, balance inquiries and mini-statements. Other services include transfers at N$2.50, beneficiary payments at N$4 and a flat rate of N$1 per session for MTC. At the launch, Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communications Stephanus Mogotsi said telecommunications-based banking services will make the lives of Namibians easier, safer and less complicated. He said the bank’s cellphone banking will without doubt have a huge impact on the lives of Namibian people, especially those in rural areas. The deputy minister said his understanding of banking was that it should integrate the poor into the mainstream of the economy in terms of financial management, savings, ownership, loans and credit and thereby create additional wealth through sustainable economic growth. “All these aspects make competition in the banking industry in Namibia fierce. Commercial banks in Namibia are working hard to improve banking services they offer and constantly develop various products that not only improve their respective competitive advantages but which will also help to improve the standards of living of our people,” he said. Although Cell Phone banking is not new to the market, FNB Namibia’s chief executive officer, Leonard Haynes, said the bank would capitalise on market awareness and position itself to claim honour and prestige as part of the bank’s innovation. “Our customers who register for Cell phone banking will be able to do their banking from anywhere in the bush, in the bus, in the bath, virtually anywhere, using their mobile handsets to buy prepaid cellphone airtime, request account balances, obtain mini-statements, transfer money between accounts and make beneficiary payments,” said Haynes. FNB clients with a transactional account and a cellphone can register for full service Cell phone banking at any FNB branch.