First National Bank (FNB) has a new, unified look for its digital banking platforms, including online banking and the FNB banking app for smartphones and tablets.
Speaking at a media event in Cape Town on Friday, Sahil Mungar, head of marketing at FNB Digital Banking, described the new platforms as the bank's first steps towards creating the "Uber" of banking.
He noted the aim was to create a unified omni- and opti-channel customer experience.
According to Mungar, the changes go deeper than the look and feel of the platform. "This platform really gives us access to features and benefits that we believe are future-proof."
He added the look and feel of the platform was intended to mimic app store design principles because the bank wanted to create something that most customers are familiar with.
Acknowledging this isn't a "new technology", the offering is about creating an API platform that can be scaled up or down and gives the customer choice of device, channel and platform, said Mungar. FNB wanted to develop this new platform into an omni-channel offering with one unified look, he continued. "The crux of this was developing a platform that allows us to develop internal and external fintech innovations."
The bank has also developed a Business Directory to allow consumers to connect with businesses via providing them with lists of products and services in their vicinity. Businesses can list their offerings on the FNB app or online banking.
While the new platform appears to signal a movement away from supporting USSD and feature phones, as the focus is largely shifting towards smart devices, Mungar noted this does not mean the bank is turning its back on USSD.
He revealed figures from 2015 show the bank had over two million USSD users and more than 1.5 million devices actively using the bank's banking app. Similarly, the new platform does not mean the death of branches, he said, stressing there is still a very real need for branches.
Essentially, the new interface is targeted at anyone with a mobile device that is able to access the bank's various channels, Mungar continued.
"What we really want to build is the capability to deliver what we know we need to deliver but we also want to be able to provide things that we may need to deliver in the future."
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