Absa has added three of the country`s indigenous languages to some of its electronic banking services, but excluding its Internet banking channel.
The initial multi-lingual pilot phase, which has been in development for 18 months, will give the nation`s Zulu, Xhosa and South-Sotho speakers the choice of banking on the ATM in their home language. Zulu and South-Sotho speakers will also have this option on telephone banking.
Until now, English and Afrikaans were the only choices on these services.
Alfie Naidoo, managing executive Absa e-channels says: "South Africa`s population comprises 23.8% first language Zulu-speakers, 7.9% South-Sotho and 17.6% Xhosa speakers. This is just another step towards addressing the gaps in the banking sector," says Naidoo.
Additional languages will be considered during the next phase of the multi-lingual initiative in line with customer requirements.
Naidoo says Absa has the country`s largest ATM footprint with 4 000 machines and claims the largest telephone banking base with some 420 000 customers. "This is just another way we are seeking to meet the needs of our six million customers."
He says that as drivers of the Financial Services Charter (FSC), Absa is determined to smash any barriers to entry in the communities they serve.
"By creating additional options on these services we will make banking easier for newcomers," says Naidoo.
This announcement comes just weeks after Absa became the first of the 'big four` banks to declare an imminent 10% empowerment shareholding in the Group well before the FSC 2010 deadline.
The new language options will be available to the public from March 2004 after customer feedback and subsequent adjustments are made to the pilot system.
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