Absa has launched ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger, which allows clients to conduct their banking in the chat application.
Messenger is the second platform that Absa has brought its ChatBanking service to – in March, it launched it on Twitter.
“Our customers already use Facebook for their daily dose of global news, to share photos with friends and family, and even solve their business issues. To deliver a cool banking experience, we are bringing banking to where our customers spend their time,” said Ashley Veasey, group CIO at Absa parent Barclays Africa, in a statement.
A recent study by World Wide Worx and Fuseware showed that Facebook is used by 13m South Africans, or about a quarter of the population, Absa said.
“Facebook has seen an 8% year-on-year growth, with the majority of users accessing the social media platform through their mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets,” the bank said.
“Changes in customer behaviour require that banking has to be available anytime, anywhere and accessible wherever the customer is,” said Veasey in the statement.
“The launch of ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger, in addition to Twitter, will open many doors for easier, better digital interactions to take place wherever the customer is. It offers an even faster, simpler, and richer experience than traditional digital banking channels.”
Absa customers can now use Facebook Messenger (and Twitter) to get the actual and available balance on their transactional account; buy airtime or data for the cellphone registered to their account; get a mini statement showing the last few transactions on their account; buy prepaid electricity for selected municipalities; and make a payment to an existing beneficiary that they have paid at least once before.
Absa customers who are registered for Absa Online Internet banking and have access to the “Express” tab on the website can register for ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger.
“Your personal information is protected and your account number and personal details will never be displayed in a chat. This means that even in the event of your cellphone being stolen or someone gaining access to your Facebook account, they would not be able to abuse the information,” said Veasey. — © 2016 NewsCentral Media
