First National Bank's (FNB)'s discounted device offer continues to be taken up with unflagging interest, as the bank has sold more than 35 000 Apple iPads since the launch of the offer in October last year.
According to product owner at FNB Core Banking Solutions, Kartik Mistry, the discounted tablet and smartphone initiative that was launched with promoting access to electronic banking in mind, has proven to be unswervingly popular, particularly with regard to the world's leading tablet device, Apple's iPad 2.
Mistry says that, while the iPad is still the most popular device among the brands on offer via FNB's in-house payment plan, including BlackBerry, HTC and Samsung, the South African market also favours devices on the Android platform. “Between HTC and BlackBerry we have sold approximately 7 000 devices.”
FNB's preliminary deal, for its gold and platinum cheque account-holders, offered customers 0% interest financing options with up to 35% discount on the Apple iPad 2, HTC Sensation, HTC Flyer, HTC Wildfire S and BlackBerry Curve 8520.
Four top-end Samsung devices, including tablets, a smartphone and the then new smartphone tablet hybrid, were added to the mix in December, a move that Mistry says has also seen “a very favourable take-up”.
Initially overwhelmed
The initial reaction to the deal saw FNB struggling to meet what the bank said was an unexpectedly high demand, particularly for the iPad 2, and disgruntled customers expressed their frustration via social media platforms.
At the time, Mistry said FNB had “no idea what the response to the offer would be” and that over 1 500 queries were being fielded per day. The bank subsequently ramped up its sales and courier resources to meet the demand and quell frustration.
While the largest demand for the devices was seen with the launch of the promotion, Mistry says there continues to be considerable interest, but FNB has “found a steady flow of leads for the device”.
FNB's objective of promoting day-to-day banking via electronic banking channels, Internet and mobile banking has to a large degree been met, says Mistry. “We have seen a favourable correlation between the customers who take up the device and perform their banking on them through the smartphone banking application.”
While no further additions to the discounted devices campaign are currently in the offing, Mistry says the bank is constantly on the lookout for devices that would appeal to customers.
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