NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 – Family Bank has launched Short Message Service (SMS) banking services in a bid to increase delivery channels and provide easy access to banking information for its customers.
The new services are expected to reduce the time and the money spent on banking transactions.
“With the introduction of the service, the customer does not need to be physically present at the banking halls to get basic banking information,” said Family Bank Chief Executive Peter Kinyanjui.
Dubbed ‘Familynk’, the SMS service will give customers convenient access to their account information and other banking needs.
Clients will be able to make real time balance enquiries, purchase airtime, access mini bank statements and also change PIN numbers. Customers will receive alerts for any debit or crediting of their accounts among other services.
Mr Kinyanjui said that the Familynk service will use advanced push and pull messaging technology to enable the processing of messages, bank transactions and notifications without delay.
Mr Kinyanjui said the ‘push’ services will inform customers of credits to and payments from their accounts while the pull services allow customers to make balance enquiries and conduct different transactions.
The CEO said customers are very conscious of costs associated with branch visits, especially those related to fuel, transport and parking. This service will help customers cut costs of doing banking by simply using a hand set.
The Bank’s Marketing Manager Brian Kiondo said the launch of SMS banking was part of their quest to make banking convenient, expedient and timely.
“SMS banking has radically changed the relationship and banking behaviours of the customers that use it. Convenience, efficiency and control are the three major benefits to our customers,” said Mr Kiondo.
