French telco Orange has partnered with Bank of Africa, allowing customers to transfer funds to the bank via Orange Money - the operator's m-payment offering.
Although the bank has a presence in 16 countries across east and west Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Niger, Orange wants to bolster its presence across more territories on the continent.
In a recent statement, the operator says customers will be able to "carry out safe and real-time banking operations, to transfer money, pay for goods and services, and purchase airtime credit without going to the bank or to the shop".
The operator said the large network of Orange Money distributors will supplement around 450 Bank of Africa branches, offering "a maximum number of cash withdrawal points to the customers of the two companies".
Marc Rennard, Orange's senior executive VP for Africa, the Middle East, said the partnership with the bank indicates the operator's ambition to offer services that are easily accessible and easy to use. "Our respective businesses complement each other, making it easier for customers to manage their money using their mobile, wherever they are in the country and at any time of the day."
This is the first step in a range of financial services that will be developed by the two companies.
SA strategy
Meanwhile, Orange Horizons - the subsidiary set up last year to seek out opportunities in countries where the operator is not already present as a mass-market telecoms provider - put its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) plans for SA on hold, citing regulatory hurdles.
While the company aims to breach the local market through other channels in the meantime, Orange Horizons MD S'ebastien Crozier previously told ITWeb that a silo mentality among SA's incumbent operators was one of the hurdles stalling its MVNO foray.
He noted the company's relationship with South African consumers and business had revealed other aspirations and opportunities that could possibly be pursued.
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