FNB launches ATM cash withdrawal via mobile (South Africa)
South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) has announced that it has introduced its Cash Withdrawal solution using Cellphone Banking.
Cash Withdrawal will allow FNB Cellphone Banking customers to withdraw cash directly from their FNB transactional account at an FNB ATM without the use of any bank cards.
According to CEO of FNB Cellphone Banking Solutions, Ravesh Ramlakan, innovation is at the heart of FNB’s core values. It is through constant innovation that they are able to design and deliver solutions that will bring convenience to the lives of our customers. Cash withdrawal using FNB Cellphone Banking is such a solution.
To withdraw cash using Cellphone Banking, customers need to log onto Cellphone Banking and select the banking option. Customers must then select Withdraw Cash, and then the account from which they want to withdraw cash i.e. cheque account, savings account, etc.
HDFC Bank seeking 3G services to improve mobile banking (India)
A senior HDFC Bank official has claimed that the bank is planning to increase the number of clients using its mobile banking services in Andhra Pradesh to 10% of its customer base once 3G services are fully launched in the state from below 5% at present.
The leading private lender is also set to open 34 new branches in the state before the end of this financial year, taking the total number to 137.
According to HDFC Bank Senior Vice President, Mr C S Gopinath, mobile banking is still in the budding stage. It has to go a long way. After facilities like 3G services are launched, it is expected to reach 10%. Currently, mobile banking is around 3 to 5%. The aim is to encourage customers to go for more technology based services like ATM, mobile and Internet banking.
According to Mr Gopinath, only 26% of HDFC Bank’s customers visit branches and the rest depend on ATMs, the Internet and mobiles for their banking needs. The bank has 450 to 500 ATMs in AP and up to 20% of customers use Internet banking. HDFC Bank is planning to open 34 new branches in the state by the end of this fiscal.
He informed that they have 103 branches in AP presently. They are planning to open another 34 by the end of this financial year, taking the number of branches to 137. In Karnataka, they have close to 100 branches and in Kerala — 150. In Tamil Nadu, the bank has 135 branches.
FIS launches prepaid electronic financial account service (USA)
FIS, US-based banking and payments technology provider has launched a prepaid electronic financial account service, in a bid to offer financial services to a range of consumer segments.
With the new electronic financial account application customers will be able to make electronic deposits and payments as an alternative to traditional demand deposit account (DDA) or general-purpose reloadable (GPR) prepaid card.
In addition, users can access the prepaid electronic financial account service via a range of channels, including online, mobile, point-of-sale (POS), ATM, interactive voice response (IVR) as well as through a call center. Account holders can conduct payments using various payment networks such as Visa, MasterCard and the NYCE payments network. Moreover, with the new application, users can also initiate payments to billers and electronically transfer funds between accounts.
China Unicom to launch mobile payment services next month
If sources are to be believed, China Unicom plans to implement commercial mobile payment services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing in November.
According to the source, Unicom will introduce the services to users by exchanging their SIM cards for free or granting them new mobile phones for free.
Unicom has inked the deal with China UnionPay to launch its mobile payment services through UnionPay’s ATMs.
Earlier Unicom conducted trial application of the services in the four cities, attracting over one million users.
Western Union collaborates With SBI to Launch Mobile Money Transfer in India
Western Union has collaborated with State Bank of India (SBI) to provide accountholders with cross-border money transfers via mobile phones. In July, Western Union announced the introduction of the Account-Based Money Transfer (ABMT) service which will be launched in early 2011. This service will facilitate SBI customers with online bank accounts to pull a Western Union Money Transfer directly into their accounts via Internet or ATM.
According to Anil Kapur, Western Union’s Senior VP (South and Southeast Asia), India is the world’s No. 1 remittance recipient country, and according to World Bank figures, has received US$52 billion in 2009. Currently, consumers can send Mobile Money Transfers from nearly 70,000 Western Union Agent locations in 25 countries.
Western Union has 61,000 locations in India, and the mobile transfer partnership will allow it to expand its distribution within India using SBI’s network. Western Union already has a partnership with SBI, with over 12,000 SBI branches offering Western Union Money Transfer service.
SBI has 110 million accountholders, of which more than 4 million are registered for online banking.
Western Union also offers the Mobile Money Transfer service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Kenya with Safaricom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in South Africa with Absa Bank.
The company also announced an agreement with EnStream in Canada and has agreements with Tunisian Post and Bank of Commerce & Development (BoCD) in Libya. In addition, Western Union previously announced an alliance with Zain (Airtel) in Africa.
Swisscom-owned Sicap launches mobile money ATM
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: ATM machine for mobile money services has been developed by Swisscom-owned Sicap and ATM manufacturer Wincor Nixdorf wherein users with prepaid mobile money accounts can use the ATM to send and receive money by entering the recipient’s mobile number and the amount of the transaction.
An SMS with a special code will be received by the recipient allowing them to go to the ATM machine to withdraw the cash. The ATMs can also be used for cash top-up and self-service subscription management.
According to J¼rgen Samuel, CEO of mobile solutions firm Sicap, consumers will have to learn how to use the ATM which isn’t quite as straightforward as just sending an SMS directly but the staff can show first-timers how to use the service initially at the ATMs in cellco shops
