First National Bank (FNB) has extended its share investing service to its FNB Banking App.
FNB Investing is now available on the latest version of the app for smartphones and tablets, and offers full trading functionality, says the bank. "Customers can now buy, sell and keep track of their investments via the FNB Banking App."
Giuseppe Virgillito, head of Banking App at FNB Mobile and Connect, says the bank found existing customers of both the Banking App and Share Investing to be similar - and so the move "makes sense".
"The development of our app is based on customer demand [and] the fast-paced nature of share trading means there is a clear need for anytime access to this platform and we believe the mobility and real-time access of apps complements this."
From today, customers that use the FNB Banking App on their tablet can open new Share Investing accounts. FNB says customers need to download or upgrade to the latest version of the app, via the app store on their device. "In addition to users of iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, users of Windows 8 tablets now also have access to the FNB Banking App."
App aspects
Outlining the uses FNB Share Investing customers will get out of the service on the latest version of its app, FNB says: "The [app] allows Share Investing customers to keep track of their investments with an overview of their shares and Stock Exchange News Service information, as well as view market indicators."
With the trading functionality, says the bank, customers can buy and sell JSE-listed shares, Exchange Traded Funds and Kruger rands via mobile device. "The app also provides a comprehensive view of the market performance, depending on the Share Investing product held."
Gusta Binikos, CEO of FNB Share Investing, notes the bank has been giving users online access to Kruger rands since 2011. "More recently - with the launch of Share Saver - FNB provides customers access to the top 100 JSE-listed shares, which is the cheapest way to access the JSE."
Pioneering the movement of banking apps in SA, FNB launched a smartphone banking app in 2011. The bank says there are currently over 600 000 active customers of the FNB Banking App to date.
Virgillito notes 90% of Share Investing customers trade online - and a further 60% of these have access to a smart device.
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