Absa Bank – Using digital solutions to help customers get things done

Absa Bank Ghana, the first bank to introduce ATM Cash Deposit and many other digital innovations in the financial sector, is enabling its customers to continue banking at the comfort of their homes and offices, through its array of secure digital services.  Demonstrating the Absa Africanacity attitude of finding innovative ways to help its customers to get things done, the bank is connecting its customers to services that ensure they continue to enjoy convenient banking experience, even in this COVID-19 period. Absa Bank Ghana, which was only a few weeks ago named the Best Retail Bank by the Global Banking and Finance Review, has digital solutions for both corporate and personal customers. These include the upgraded Mobile Banking App with facial and fingerprint ID features, Internet Banking Solution for SMEs and a secured Online Banking as well as Host-to-Host channel for corporate clients. Other digital services are Deposit Accepting ATMs, Hello Money, In-branch paperless transactions, Credit & Debit Cards, Point of Sales Terminals, Cash Send money transfer and Cardless withdrawal via ATM and Mobile Money services. Absa also has a platform that digitizes the cheques clearing process called Remote Cheque Deposit. Corporates organisations, sitting in the comfort of their offices, can send cheque images via the system and it gets processed into their account seamlessly. There is no need to send this cheque physically to the bank, especially in this COVID-19 period that we need to maintain social distancing. With these digital platforms, customers can manage their accounts, send cash or deposit cash, pay utility bills, buy airtime, order cheque books, make mobile money transactions and much more at their convenience, without setting foot in a branch. As a forwarding-looking and digitally-led bank, Absa Ghana, recently deployed 50 new Intelligent Automated Teller Machines (iATMs) to enhance its ATM services and provide convenient banking services to its customers. The installation of the 50 new iATMs was to replace the existing one with upgraded machines with the latest technology and enhanced service offerings. In total, 110 of the bank’s over 160 ATMs have been replaced since 2019. These new ATMs are equipped with modern technologies like NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows for contactless withdrawals. All Absa ATMs currently provide a wide range of banking services including cash deposits which allow customers to deposit money into their account without stepping in the branch. Apart from this, customers can also make cardless withdrawals, money transfers and many other banking services at an Absa ATM. To further support customers, ATM daily cash withdrawal limit for Personal Banking customers has been increased to GHS 5000 and that of Prestige and Premier Banking customers is now in excess of GHS 9,000. All these, according to Absa Bank, is to support and encourage customers to easily and conveniently access banking services through the bank’s digital channels and reduce customers movements while they observe social distancing and minimise contact with others.