In a bid to disintermediate branch banking, Access Bank (Kenya) PLC and National Bank of Kenya (NBK) have embarked on a service merger concept which will allow customers from either bank to perform in-branch transactions at a number of relationally strategic branches.
This collusion has the tellers conducting the basic operations, such as account inquiries, cash deposits, withdrawals, and fund transfers, at any branch more than 100 all over the country.
The customer-centric initiative features the idea of pleasing customer convenience, adding the range of services, and quality delivery of services while simultaneously giving complete freedom and security to existing accounts, cards, cheque books and digital platforms.
Ralph Opara, Managing Director of Access Bank Kenya said, “This integration epitomizes accessibility and higher banking convenience, which are the core values of our promise to deliver the customers the much-needed choice and innovation in the financial solutions arena.” As more branches get integrated, customers will also have the opportunity to access the NBK connected with the public sector and retail banking solidified by Access Bank’s global reach and digital innovation.
The merging benefits to the retail and SMEs customers is that they can have better access and more reliable digital channels, while the banking clients with corporate and multinational can take advantage of the sophisticated trade finance and treasury services which are accessible through the global hubs of Access Bank in such countries as the UK, Dubai, China, Malta, France, India, Lebanon, and Hong Kong for cross-border operations.
Public sector clients will still have a chance to use the facility of NBK but now, made more efficient by technology and with a stronger emphasis on financial inclusion. George Odhiambo, NBK Managing Director said, “This synergy vividly portrays the point of how cooperation can open up the flow of tangible benefits to customers thus, being at the same time, the driver of communities and the supporter of Kenya’s economic growth.”
This step is a big signal to both banks’ plans of establishing simplified banking that facilitates customer experiences positively and advancing the digital and physical financial ecosystems of Kenya with the offer of more comfortable and accessible banking services all over the country.