First National Bank (FNB) will provide customers with smartphones and tablets at reduced rates. FNB says it will effectively lower the cost of these devices by up to 35%.

Its clients will be able to select from a range of smartphones or tablets, including the Apple iPad 2.

The bank is promoting electronic banking channels, such as the FNB Banking App, Internet and mobile banking, as well as paying for goods with cards rather than cash.

The discounted smartphones will come preloaded with the FNB Banking App, which runs on iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices.

FNB cheque account customers will be able to select from a range of smartphones, including the HTC Sensation, HTC Wildfire S and BlackBerry Curve 8520. Customers that already have smartphones will also be able to select an Apple iPad 2 or HTC Flyer tablet.

The device costs will be included in the customer’s monthly banking fees. For the iPad 2, for example, there are generally no finance options available to the market so this addresses accessibility, FNB claims.

The smartphone and tablet offer is available to new and existing FNB customers. Gold and platinum cheque account customers and “soon” FNB Private Clients and RMB Private Bank clients will also have access to the offer. — Staff reporter, TechCentral