EQUITY : BANK UNVEILS A CUSTOMER LED DIGITAL BANK

EQUITY BANK UNVEILS A CUSTOMER LED DIGITAL BANK

Overview

• Equity scales new heights in its digitization journey, unveils EazzyBanking, a range of digital products, which are channel agonistic, driven by a versatile technology and capability platform
• Embraces a customer led revolution where customers have demonstrated affinity for digital banking. More than 80% of all loans in the bank are now being accessed through the mobile phone showing an increasing desire for self service banking
• Responds to customers' evolving and sophisticated lifestyle; Customers value more free time and prefers to spend it with family and doing what they love. They prefer self-service digital banking. They also have a higher preference for convenience in payment platforms and access to loans.
• Maintains its' historical and revolutionary culture of disrupting the banking industry through bold and innovative solutions
• Enlists high level partnerships and world leading experts in banking technology, security, big data aggregation and analytics ensuring a high availability, agile and secure operating environment
• Equity enters the third phase of its growth and evolution characterized by technology and digitization, making banking easy. First phase of ten years from 2004, the bank reached out to unbanked populations and gave them a safe and secure place to keep their money, away from the mattress. Second phase of ten years, the bank expanded to rural areas deepening financial inclusion and debunking the myth that rural areas were not bankable.
• Bank branches will transition to centers of excellence focusing on high value transactions banking for SME and corporate banking.

Nairobi, 11th/October/2016…. 'Customers' banking trends have declared the death of the bank branch as transaction channel, as they increasingly embrace self-service technology platforms that give them freedom, choice and control.' Dr. James Mwangi revealed this while launching a suite of digital products dubbed Eazzy Banking that promise to give an easy, comprehensive and secure experience while supporting a convenient lifestyle for Kenyans transacting both in the country and abroad.

He added, 'Further, customers have demonstrated the extinction of cash preferring to transact with digital money which is safer for transactions and more hygienic than bank notes. In response to these trends that we have been observing from our customers, we have reinvented ourselves into a digital bank to respond to their needs, in line with our promise as their listening caring partner. ' Dr. Mwangi said that this trend is in line with the Government's vision of a cashlite economy as contained in the country's vision 2030.

The all-inclusive Eazzy suite of banking products will take care of all customer needs. The bank unveiled a banking app known as Eazzy App, an interoperable payment platform, EazzyPay; a mobile based loan product, EazzyLoan; a solution to help Chamas, investment clubs and groups manage their joint finances and investments, EazzyChama ;a retail internet portal where customers can manage their bank accounts, EazzyNet. This platform also enables PayPal account holders to withdraw their funds to their Equity Bank accounts within three business days. A cash and liquidity management solution for SMEs known as Eazzy Biz, and banking capabilities packaged as APIs exposed through Eazzy APIs platform. 'We have a banking solution for everyone, in line with our inclusive agenda which we have carried as part of our commitment throughout our history, said Dr. Mwangi and added; 'The bank's strategy is to be the region's leading digital bank delivering a remarkable client experience in key digital touch points. 'We have all witnessed how rapid adoption of mobile and other digital channels have transformed how people bank. We are thus delighted to unveil this platform that will drive growth in our business via new innovations and increased customer loyalty.' he said.

Dr. Mwangi added that the digital journey that the bank started a year ago is already showing impressive results with the number of the bank's active digital customers rising steadily. In the period ending September 2016, growth in Equitel mobile loan disbursements accounted for 84% of all loan disbursements compared to 16% branch loan disbursements.

The success of this strategy has been underscored by forging strategic partnerships with global leading experts in data security, big data capture and analytics ensuring an operating environment that is highly available, secure, scalable and interoperable. Some of the partners include Oracle who have provided the software and hardware technology (engineered platform and cloud service), Apigee who have provided the API platform to support the self-service developers' portal for innovations, Airtel who support the Equitel MVNO capability, OpenWay who have provided the card management platform and Infosys who have provided the core banking platform. Experian MicroAnalytics have provided the bank with a robust credit scoring platform that aggregates all our data sources to analyze the customers

Other partners include Paladion for security operations monitoring, CISCO for Network infrastructure, and IBM for core banking infrastructure.Equity Bank has obtained the prestigious global Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard 3.1 (PCI DSS 3.1) certification effective 28th August 2016, becoming the first Kenyan bank and one of the first banks in East Africa to do so. The certification affirms Equity's adherence to international security standards related to the protection of customer information. In addition, Equity Bank has recently partnered with a Global Security Operation Centre (GSOC) in line with the Bank's strategic vision of providing secure Banking services to our customers. The GSOC is the central nerve center that offers real-time internal and external threats detection and cyber defense 247. The GSOC is equipped with specialized technology, processes and expertise to monitor, assess and proactively defend the Bank from any potential threats both internally and externally.

'The rapid growth of the financial technology industry in Kenya is a testament to the role advancing technology is playing in the evolution of financial services on the continent. Technology is fueling innovation and growth in the financial services sector, creating new opportunities and disrupting the way business has traditionally been conducted.' he concluded.
Ends…

About Eazzy Banking Products

Eazzy Pay
You can now pay for bills, goods and services straight from your phone using; Your Equitel Line, Equity Bank App (Eazzy App) or Mobile money (Mpesa Airtel Money and Orange Money) Look out for outlets with an EazzyPay Accepted Here signage; at shops, supermarkets, airlines, petrol stations, hotels, canteens as well as online.

Eazzy App
EazzyApp is your Bank anywhere, anytime. Everything you do at the bank is now on Eazzy App. From sending money to paying for goods and services, accessing Eazzy loans, paying bills, checking the status of your account or saving for your future goals, it is all in your hands. Download the Eazzy App from Google Play Store or the App Store today

Eazzy Loan
Get an Eazzy loan of up to Kshs. 3million instantly on your phone. You don't have to fill in any forms and no need for guarantors. What's more, you can monitor your loan balance and make repayments through your Equitel line or use the EazzyApp. You can access Eazzy Loan from Equitel, EazzyApp or EazzyNet

Eazzy bank account
Opening an Equity Bank account is easy. Simply dial *247# from your current local mobile network and open one instantly, hapo hapo. Download the EazzyApp and start doing your banking anywhere, anytime through your phone; pay bills, buy goods and services for free, send money for free, apply and get a loan, check your account balance, withdraw money from an agent or ATM and much more.

Eazzy Chama
This is an online solution that allows Joint, Investment, Group or Chama account holders to manage their group activities like record keeping and banking transactions, while maintaining transparency and accessibility among all group members. This solution allows group members to monitor group transactions, track personal transactions therefore saving time and work efficiently.

Multiple approvals
Good news to holders of Joint, Group and Chama accounts. You can operate your joint account straight from your phone. No matter where you are, you can now use your Equitel line to approve group account transactions using your PIN. Multiple approvals allows signatories to transact wherever they are eliminating the need to physically meet in order to sign a cheque or to authorize transactions. It is safe, secure and convenient.

Eazzy Net
EazzyNet, offers our retail customers better online experience. Our new look and improved features enhances your online banking experience, making it easier to navigate through the platform. Bank anywhere, any time. The platform also enables PayPal account holders to withdraw their funds direct to their Equity Bank accounts within three business days.

Eazzy Biz
This is a robust, secure and comprehensive Cash and Liquidity Management solution that incorporates Payments, Collections & Receivables, Liquidity Management and Host to Host (H2H) modules to cater for Cash Management requirements of Corporate and SME clients. Seamlessly integrated, it gives you a global view of your cash position, enables you to make payments, manage your cash flow and balances across multiple currencies and locations. EazzyBiz offers a great user experience, unified view of accounts and has information rendering capability through analytics and management dashboards.

EazzyAPI
With Eazzy API, application developers, businesses, institutions and payment providers can now leverage the full capabilities of a digital bank. We have exposed the bank's capabilities in the form of APIs for direct integrations to your systems or customers with bank grade security at the heart of such implementations. These APIs include: Funds transfer (within and outside Equity), Airtime top up from any telco at a discount, Pay bills, goods and services, Instant Equity account opening and much more. Visit the Eazzy API portal; https://developers.equitybankgroup.com

Alex Muhia
Equity Bank
T: 0763 618871; Office 0763 026007
E: [e-mail]
E: [e-mail]

Carol Wairugu
Ogilvy PR
T:- 0764 515797
E: [e-mail]

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