Easy access at the tip of your fingers, subscribe to our daily ePaper version of our New Era Newspaper.
Home / Unexpected Response to CellPone Banking Initiative
Unexpected Response to CellPone Banking Initiative
2006-12-14Staff Report 2 "By Staff Reporter WINDHOEK Bank Windhoek's latest initiative to make banking more affordable to its clients has registered over 4ÃÆ'Æ'ÀÃ...ÃÆ''šÃ‚ 000 clients since it was launched slightly more than a week ago. The bank says it is overwhelmed by the number of clients registering for CellPhone Banking, especially with the transaction volumes of MTC top-ups being way above its expectations. The service enables Bank Windhoek clients with Cheque, Easy Save or Transaction accounts, who have mobile telephones to register to access the service through which one can pay their bills, transfer money, enquire about their balances, get a mini statement and top up airtime wherever there is an MTC network. The new initiative was developed by Bank Windhoek in partnership with MTC and their technology partner Cointel, and was partly funded by the British Government's Financial Deepening Challenge Fund. The bank feels the move will enable it to provide accessible and affordable banking services to Namibia because the service does not require registration or monthly service fees. The bank said in a press statement on Friday that the response from the public demonstrated that the initiative made banking easier and more accessible for its clients. ""Due to this tremendous response, clients registering for limited access CellPhone Banking might have only received a call from our HelpDesk within 24 hours after sending an SMS to register. However, the situation has now normalized and clients will receive a call from our Helpdesk staff shortly after sending their sms and they will be provided with a pin code,"" explained Stoney Steenkamp, Head of the Cards and Support Services Department of Bank Windhoek. ""Through this new service, the bank offers its clients two options, namely: limited access or full access to CellPhone Banking, and Bank Windhoek clients can register for full access by visiting and applying at their local branch with their cell phone and Namibian Passport or Identity Document."" Full access to CellPhone Banking allows clients to do balance enquiries, view a mini statement, transfer money and do top-ups on their Tango pre-paid package or pay their MTC account. CellPhone Banking is compatible with all types of cell phones and allows clients to do banking wherever they roam in South Africa during this festive season." 2006-12-14Staff Report 2
