First Bank of Nigeria, in its bid to make banking easier for its customers has officially launched its chat banking services on WhatsApp.
With the rising need for customers to easily carry out transactions anywhere, the newly launched chat banking is a move by the bank to reduce the barriers for its customers.
Speaking at the event which held at the First Bank digital lab in Lagos, Adesola Adeduntan, managing director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited & Subsidiaries said; “As a leading banking service provider and customer-friendly bank, we are keen to offer excellent financial services to our esteemed customers and also very keen to device new ways of effectively and efficiently meeting customers’ financial needs”.
READ LASO: Experts divided on impact of social media on education
With a customer base of about 12.5 million and monthly transactions worth over 20 billion naira, the need to expand transaction channels to online platforms is something which has prompted the bank to come up with innovative services such as the chat banking platform on WhatAapp.
WhatsApp messenger is a free to download messaging mobile application that has more than one billion people in over 180 countries using the app.
“We have optimised our digital banking offerings to ensure ease of banking and convenience; our FirstMobile app, Firstonline, FirstMonie and USSD banking are some of the channels we have put in place to make this happen. FirstBank Chat Banking on WhatsApp is our latest addition. We have gone live with this product and I am pleased to formally introduce this product to our media partners today,” Adedutan said.
He also stated that the bank has gone to extra lengths to make the process seamless and safe.
“Customers can now carry out various transactions on the chat platform including, transfers, payment of utility bills, mobile phone credit top-ups amongst others,” Adedutan explained.
On the security of the platform, he said customers would be able to generate a WhatsApp banking PIN and all transaction authentications will be done using a safe link, thereby ensuring the security of banking details.
First bank WhatsApp banking could be done by easily adding 08124444000 on the app and sending a simple message to begin banking.
“We remain committed to leveraging evolving technology in delivering easy and convenient banking services and products to our esteemed customers,” the bank stated.
Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson
