Zimbabwe’s Cattle Bank Takes Live Deposits

An innovative new banking idea is taking hold in Zimbabwe. At Zimbabwe’s first Cattle Bank you can deposit animals as collateral against cash loans. A large portion of rural Zimbabwe is still unbanked and many people hold their wealth in the cattle they own. The Cattle Bank allows them to get and utilise monetary value

South Africans Highly Satisfied with Online Shopping – MasterCard Survey

The latest MasterCard Online Shopping Survey has revealed that a substantial 91% of South Africans who shop online are highly satisfied with their overall experience, a 4% increase from the 87% who said the same thing in the 2012 survey. A further indication of South Africans’ positive sentiment for online shopping is that 76% of

Farmworkers Drive Increase in ATM Activity

Although latest cash withdrawal statistics released by Spark ATM Systems, indicate that the national average cash withdrawal values remained static during the month of May, ATM activity recorded at farming locations, however, revealed the highest month-to-month increase across all locations. The Spark Cash Index (SCI), which measures the average value of cash withdrawals across more

Cross-Border Cheques to be Phased Out

Cross-border cheques and bank drafts within the Common Monetary Area (CMA) are being phased out with effect from 22 July 2013 and will no longer be accepted by any banking institution within the CMA. The CMA includes Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. For Namibian clients it means that, as from the 22nd of July

eCentric Switch Partners with the PCI Security Standards Council to Improve Payment Data Security

eCentric Switch, a leading South African Payment Service Provider announced that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council as a new Participating Organization. eCentric Switch will work with the Council to achieve and improve payment data security worldwide through the on-going development of the PCI Security Standards, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security

Standard Bank South Africa Launches Customer Rewards Programme

Standard Bank South Africa has launched a rewards programme. From 10 June 2013, Standard Bank South Africa customers can join UCount Rewards, a programme offering rewards for using their Standard Bank personal debit, cheque or credit card. “Our customers are our greatest asset and through this programme, Standard Bank will reward customers in a way

ABSA Unveils ‘Futuristic Branch’

Imagine a branch where long queues are a thing of the past, even during traditionally busy periods, where innovation not only drives convenience, but also has tremendous environmental benefits; and technological advances support a safe and convenient 24-hour banking experience. Such features are set to become the new standard in South African banking halls with

FNB Zambia to open three new branches across Zambia in 2013

First National Bank will open five new branches this year including in Chipata, Solwezi and Chingola as it continues to extend its services in to the unbanked population. And FNB Zambia chief executive officer Sarel van Zyl has noted that the bank has achieved significant growth during its four years of business in Zambia. Speaking

FNB Lesotho Appoints New CEO

The FNB Lesotho Board of Directors announced the appointment of Emil Heppell to the position of Chief Executive Officer of FNB Lesotho. Heppell succeeds Trevor Holtman who left the bank at the end of a four year secondment to pursue other opportunities within the group. Heppell’s qualifications and capabilities are highly regarded by the Board

South Africa Selects Gemalto for its National Electronic Identity Card Program

Gemalto will supply the Government Printing Works (GPW) of South Africa with Sealys eID cards for their national identity card program. GPW will harness Gemalto’s secure embedded software to protect the holder’s image and biometric data within the secure identity e-document, delivering outstanding levels of integrity and privacy. Moreover, GPW selected the high-end Sealys document