NIC Bank Group is planning to be Kenya’s first bank to launch an innovative social media banking platform, dubbed NIC KONNECT which offer bank customers secure access to banking services via social media platforms. The mobile banking product will be available through Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.
According to the bank, customers can use a secure PIN to access mini statements, balance inquiry, airtime purchase, funds transfers and make utility payments. More services like merchant payments, mobile money, cheque book and card ordering will be available through NIC KONNECT in the near future. Non-customers of NIC Bank will also be able to open accounts, find NIC ATMS and locate branches using NIC KONNECT.
“This new innovation is aimed at providing our customers with an easier point of interface with their bank. It is perfectly aligned with our MOVE to NOW philosophy through which we aim to provide our customers with multiple channels of access to our services, thereby creating greater convenience,” said NIC Group Managing Director John Gachora.
Gachora said the bank decided to launch the service following an extensive market research which highlighted that Kenyans, especially the youth, are spending more time on social media platforms. There was thus need to interact with customers at their convenience, “where they are.”
To roll out the service, NIC Bank has partnered with Craft Silicon.
“We are very excited to work with NIC Bank to deliver this innovative solution to the Kenyan market,” said Craft Silicon CEO Kamal Budhabhatti.
