DURBAN - Standard Bank is deploying 11 mobile ATM’s to KwaZulu-Natal. This is as part of a collective response from banks to assist and streamline the Sassa payment process in KwaZulu-Natal in response to recent unrest.
The bank said this would ensure that Standard Bank adds additional on the ground resources so those vulnerable members who rely on social grants as well other community members who use cash for their daily transactions.
“The disruptions caused recently in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has made it harder for vulnerable and dependent members of our society to have access to their grant payments,” said head of consumer and high net worth clients in SA, Kabelo Makeke.
The bank said this deployment of ATMs is largely due to vandalised banking infrastructure and disrupted transport routes that have been damaged or are not available.
In conjunction with other banks and Sassa, mobile ATM units have been deployed to provide services closer to where the immediate needs of communities are it said.
“To further ease the potential access burden, Standard Bank permanently removed Saswitch fees for all its customers. Standard Bank customers can withdraw cash from any ATM in the industry for a more affordable flat fee of R10/R1000 drawn value.
The bank said it is offering a long-term solution by removing the Saswitch fee indefinitely.
“We believe that this is a longer-term solution to cater for the needs of our society, as well as make it more convenient for our clients to access financial services,” says Makeke.
Standard Bank’s Instant Money cash transfer product had more than tripled its access points in nine months. It said Instant Money is now available at approximately 50 000 access points in South Africa. In November last year, the bank had 15 000 access points.
Instant Money is a money transfer product that allows consumers who do not have a bank account to send and receive cash. Funds can be transferred using internet banking, ATM’s, the banking app and cellphone banking. The service is also available at various retail partners. Customers are urged to consider this transaction option as a safe and convenient way to send and receive funds.
THE MERCURY