Banks eager to embrace new technology to cut costs

SEVERAL local commercial banks are considering the installation of a new banking system aimed at merging electronic banking services on one platform in an attempt to reduce operating costs.With the new technology dubbed “BankWorld”, banks will be able to roll out services like mobile banking, e-banking and SMS banking, among others, on a single banking platform.A technology firm, CR2, introduced the technology to lenders during a workshop in Kigali on Tuesday. “With this platform, lenders can minimise costs and reach the unbanked population,” Albert Akimanzi, FINA Bank’s Head of Marketing said, adding that the solution is exciting and that banks are ready to embrace it.According to CR2’s Marketing and PR Manager, Nadia Benaissa, ‘BankWorld’ is the only integrated self-service platform available that lets lenders actively manage all electronic channels including ATMs, Internet, Mobile, Point of Sales (POS) and Kiosks from a single platform. She explained that the platform helps retail banks solve their complex business challenges by reducing operational costs, generating new revenues at the self-service channels and improving customer satisfaction through best-in-class technology and service.“BankWorld enables lenders to design new products, services and screens, provide a personalised offering to customers, cross-sell and up sell products to the right customer at the right time and right channel,” Benaissa explained.This comes at a time the local banking industry introduces new innovative products in the market. CR2’s Head of Product Development, Keith Holmes noted that the ‘Mobile banking’ platform is revolutionising banking in Africa, adding that internet banking has become an increasingly utilised channel for customers with some banks already closing down some branches.Some bankers believe that the new platform which does not require a client to physically go to a banking hall to access the banking system, underscoring that it could reduce the number of the unbanked population in the country.“This will surely come in handy for many banks as we are increasingly growing tired of the paper transactions and visiting bank halls,” Patrick Mugabo, a Bank of Kigali customer who attended the workshop, pointed out. Rwanda targets to increase the banked population to 80 per cent by 2020. Currently, only 21 per cent of Rwandans have access to banking services, while 26 per cent have access to informal banking facilities.

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Banks eager to embrace new technology to cut costs