Cogebanque Mobile banking is the banking system set up by Cogebanque that enables its clients to access different financial services without physically visiting its branches or meeting agents leveraging on mobile technology especially for these not having smartphones. In order to use mobile banking, Cogebanque clients dial *505# on their mobile phones and access different financial services. The services include sending money to bank accounts, paying electricity bills, water bills and TV subscription, requesting cheque books, monitoring currency exchange rates, buying airtime among others. Jean François Regis Tuyishime in charge of Remittances at Cogebanque explained that digital banking was launched as a solution to the bank’s clients and the bank itself. “Mobile banking has solved many issues. These include loss of time and money for the clients, queues at bank branches. Now clients access services in a quick way at any time 24 hours all week long. It is convenient and ensures security for clients’ money,” he said. Cogebanque’s clients echoed that Mobile banking has eased access to the bank’s services. Innocent Gasangwa who started to use mobile banking in 2012 said: “I really do not get time to go and stand in long queues at the bank branches for withdrawing or depositing my money. I use my mobile phone and do it immediately.” Fiston Gakirage started to use mobile banking a month ago after understanding the benefits of digital banking. He said he got aware of mobile banking through the media and approached Cogebanque agents who explained the digital banking benefits to him. “I immediately adopted mobile banking. It quickens banking services. I get money easily compared to the time it takes when people go on queues at the branches to withdraw,” he said. Cogebanque explains that mobile banking has helped it to improve service delivery to the clients. “The clients are able to easily access information about their bank accounts status on their mobile phones at any time they want with or without internet,” explained Tuyishime in charge of Mobile banking. The clients who need to use a mobile banking system can visit a Cogebanque branch close to them to be facilitated to register in the system which they start to use immediately. Saving and loan services to be added Raoul Ndayambaje the head of digital banking and E-channels at Cogebanque said that the mobile banking system is going to have additional services that include requesting for a loan request, saving among others to help clients to access one-stop services. “Clients will soon have access to different services than those available today. Our clients should understand that as a bank, we do our best to serve them using technology,” he said. So far, Cogebanque has 28 branches, over 600 agents, and 36 ATMs across the country. These are supported by Mobile banking (USSD on *505# and Mobile App “Coge mBank”) used by clients to access services on smart phones. It also has Smart cash that helps in paying and withdrawing money in Rwanda Mastercards (Debit, Credit and Prepaid) that help clients to pay and withdraw money anywhere in the world.
