By EDN Reporter
The First National Bank (FNB) has retained its prominent position as Africa’s digital banking leader in 2023.
The bank was recognised at the 2023 World’s Best Consumer Digital Banks in Africa awards run by Global Finance Magazine, where it secured seven prestigious titles, including the title of South Africa’s Best Digital Bank, showcasing its strength in innovation, user experience, and fraud prevention, amongst others.
Notably, to help connect the dots between customers’ daily lives and their aspirations, FNB last year upgraded its user interface, including its Yethu app. The new framework allows the bank to deliver more contextual and relevant content and features based on customer needs and behaviour.
FNB CEO, Jacques Celliers regards the awards as validation of FNB’s role in driving Africa’s digital transformation and emphasises that the bank’s rise as a digital leader is no accident.
ALSO READ: It’s a Done Deal! FNB will continue helping you
Celliers said digital platforms are essential for improving access to services and economic activities. He further pointed out that over the years, the bank has worked hard to make life easier for customers in all its markets, and digital channels like “our FNB App have become a one-stop shop for millions of customers – both within Retail and Commercial with market-leading digital interactions.”
He added: “We zero-rated the FNB App several years ago, so customers didn’t have to pay for data to use it. We are delighted with the recognition of our efforts and pledge to provide the best customer experience to help customers navigate life”.
Celliers highlighted that FNB distinguishes itself by offering personalised digital banking experiences that recognise the diversity of customer preferences. In response, FNB provides a customisable platform, enabling each user to tailor their digital interactions.
Innovative services like FNB nav» which includes a suite of solutions like Car, Money, Home and Energy, and a comprehensive Payments ecosystem all showcasing the bank’s initiative to streamline and secure financial processes, making them as convenient as they are safe.
ALSO READ: Ethiopia to offer up to five banking licenses to foreign investors
Security features prominently in FNB’s priorities, with the bank’s various platforms incorporating robust security measures such as biometric authentication and PIN on the App, setting industry benchmarks for safety and trust.
FNB also excels in accessibility, with the FNB App designed to accommodate all users, including those with visual impairments, through cutting-edge adaptive features.
The app is designed to be user-friendly, with features such as text-to-speech and screen reader technology, which allows visually impaired customers to use the app with ease.
Celliers said that FNB’s vision for the future is clear. “FNB is not just keeping pace with the digital era; we are actively shaping it,” he says, “and our forward-looking strategy aims to revolutionise customer engagement, enhance security and build even greater levels of trust amongst our customers, delivering on our promise of ‘help’ while adding maximum value to every aspect of their lives,” he said.
US investment bank, Citi bagged 10 awards, including World’s Best Digital Bank and Best Corporate/Institutional Digital Bank, which uses sophisticated digital tools to maximize data quality and analytics, providing critical business insights at aggregated and individual-client levels.
