Chancy Namadzunda, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe-Malawi
Opportunity International Bank of Malawi has launched cell phone banking system - 'banki m'manja' - to reach out to the rural folks. The service enables customers to enquire their account balance, funds transfer, merchant payment, mobile top-up, mini-statement and change PIN.
OIBM Chief Executive Officer Alexandr-Alain Kalanda said the innovation will ease their rural customers’ access to the bank’s services.
“We would like to help our customers, who most of the times live in the rural areas where by they spend a lot of money on transport alone to access our services, to have these services right in their palms,” said Kalanda.
Customers need a minimum of 30 cents to access the service.
Banks in Malawi are based in the main cities and towns which have attracted protests amongst the population calling the banks to spread to the rural areas.
The service is being implemented in collaboration with TNM, a local telecommunications company.
Opportunity International Bank of Malawi has launched cell phone banking system - 'banki m'manja' - to reach out to the rural folks. The service enables customers to enquire their account balance, funds transfer, merchant payment, mobile top-up, mini-statement and change PIN.
Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02
AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02
Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02
Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02
AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01
Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01
Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01
Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01
