Egypt- NBE launches new services to support digital banking strategy

(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) The National bank of Egypt (NBE) has launched a new package of services through its Al Ahly Net and NBE Mobile application, to support its digital banking strategy.

NBE Chairperson Hisham Okasha said that the new services come as part of the bank's digital transformation strategy as an update to its development plan. The plan is aimed at developing and expanding the bank's current digital banking services, which it is implementing at a firm and steady pace.

Okasha added that this plan seeks to motivate customers to use digital channels, rather than traditional banking methods, to meet their various financial needs. It is also designed to allow greater ease for its customers, by reducing the frequency and numbers of customers visiting the NBE's branches in person. The move has been put in place due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), to provide the highest levels of health and safety measures for the bank's employees and customers.

He emphasised that the NBE has updated its technological infrastructure, both to support the greater digitisation of its services, and to accommodate the continued updating of these services.

Customer feedback has also pointed to greater demand for new services, which support those already available, and which are both easy and safe to use, whilst allowing customers to keep pace with their daily needs.

NBE Vice-Chairperson Yehia Aboul Fotouh said that these new services are based on studies carried out by the bank's specialised teams to determine the needs of current and potential clients. The studies, which were undertaken as part of efforts to raise customer satisfaction levels, have increased the numbers of customers using the NBE's electronic services.

He said that a total of 2,716 million customers have now subscribed to the Al Ahly Net service for individuals, with an active rate of 73%. The total number of customer subscriptions from companies has now reached 32,193 customers, with an activate rate of 71%.

The volume of financial transactions for individuals amounted to EGP 41,433bn, with the volume of financial transactions for companies amounting to EGP 21,110bn. The total number of mobile banking customers currently stands at about 483,000 users, with the total volume of financial transactions standing at EGP 30bn.

For her part, NBE Vice-Chairperson Dalia El-Baz confirmed that the NBE's new package of services for the first time includes facilities for undertaking money transfers between local accounts using the IBAN system. Additionally, customers are also able to undertake transfers to electronic wallets through the ACH network, with the ability to make payments through the Fawry electronic payment service.

El-Baz added that, as part of the bank's keenness to provide various quick, easy and safe bank card services, the new services include facilities to activate and cancel credit cards and payroll cards. This comes in addition to the re-issue of new passwords for cards, and request facilities for the card's re-issuance through the Al-Ahly Net and Al-Ahly Mobile applications.

Customers have the additional possibility of activating the Hard Token device, which is used to complete financial operations inside or outside the bank through digital channels. All services are available to customers without the need for their physical presence at a bank branch.

Al-Baz praised the efforts made by the bank's employees in supporting the bank's digital transformation and release of new digital services. She added that the fruitful cooperation has allowed the bank to put in place the best and latest banking techniques that provide the best service for the NBE's current customers. With these on board, the bank is looking to maintain its role in spreading the banking culture and attract more customers for greater financial inclusion.

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