There’s been a frenzy on social media regarding the new Absa re-brand and their supposedly ugly new logo. But that’s not what caught my attention, there’s cellphone banking, online banking and now Absa has made it possible to do your banking on Whatsapp!!
Along with the new strategy for Africa, the Red bank has introduced a new innovation which is bound to be a bandwagon that we ALL definitely jumping on. Its painful enough having to have data to use banking applications, now imagine being able to bank using your free social media/WhatsApp data, maaaan what a winner!
Absa announced this at a press briefing that addressed their new look and new strategy – the new wavy WhatsApp service for banking is part of their new Africa digital banking strategy
WhatsApp recently made a push into banking and transactional services with its WhatsApp Pay services, which launched in one of its biggest markets – India – in May. Mark might have affirmed that Facebook will always be free, but this new pay service proves that they got rabbits under their hats.
A number of banking institutions in India, notably private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank, have trialled using the platform for banking services, but it is understood that Absa is the first to fully launch the service anywhere in the world.
According to the group, as part of its ‘social media banking‘, clients will be able to perform instant transactions using the bank’s ChatBanking service, available on Facebook Messenger, Twitter and now WhatsApp.
The service allows clients to get their bank balance, buy electricity, purchase airtime and data, and also pay beneficiaries.
To use WhatApp banking, you need to follow these steps:
- Add Absa (086 000 8600) as a contact on your device;
- Open WhatsApp and find the new contact;
- Simply say ‘hi’ to your Absa contact.
#geniuslevel
