Nedbank is making things happen in a number of rural communities in the Eastern Cape. It has opened a mobile branch in Centane and another branch, called the Green Shop, will open as soon as it is built. Working with Pick ‘n Pay Group stores, Nedbank has opened an in-store branch at Boxer Superstores, one of the Pick ‘n Pay Group stores.
Spurred on by the requirements of the Financial Sector Charter, which requires banks to improve access to banking, it has embarked on an aggressive drive to make banking more relevant to and affordable for all South Africans, particularly in rural areas.
People in Centane — a rural area near Butterworth — who require banking services now have a bank branch available in their community.
The mobile branch is next to a Total petrol station. It is a small but spacious branch, which can accommodate a number of people, with an ATM, help desk and teller counter.
The mobile branch provides pensioners from the area easy access to their monthly grants; they no longer have to travel to Butterworth, stand in a queue for hours or make their way home in the dark.
Pensioners no longer have to worry about missing payout days and not receiving their grants. The money is transferred directly into their Nedbank accounts — the old system involved fingerprints and pension cards — and help is available at the community branch in case of banking problems.
”I did not know about banking before. I did not even have an account but, when they opened the station, they taught us how to use a bank card. It makes it easier. Now I can save money,” says Dumisa Mbambaza, a young petrol attendant from Centane.
Taxi drivers, professionals and small businesses are also benefiting from the mobile branch. They can bank conveniently in their own community. The working hours at the branch are specific to the demands of the people in that area.
On days such as payday or on busy days at the end of the month, the bank opens early to allow people to come in and do their banking before going to work. The bank closes late when requested to by taxi drivers and small business owners who need to deposit cash later on busy days.
”We do not want to change the way of life around the community, but rather intergrate our facilities to their way of life,” says Sibongiseni Ngundze, Nedbank’s managing director of small business.
Another exciting community initiative is Nedbank’s Green Shop, which is under construction. All the work is being done by formerly unemployed women using recycled materials such as bricks from a demolished building.
Nedbank staff members visit the various communities where they have branches to teach about banking and help those interested to open accounts. They also answer any questions residents might have about banking.
”We do not employ a one-size-fits-all approach, we treat each individual’s needs,” says Mohamed Saloojee, Nedbank’s head of mass marketing. ”We have made a conscious decision to employ local talent and skills as much as possible. Where specialised skills are needed, we embark on training programmes to empower the local communities.”
For people who traditionally used to save money under their mattressesy, it is a chance to participate more actively in the country’s economy.
Nosimilo Ndlovu travelled to the Eastern Cape as a Nedbank guest