Stanchart opens at Airport Junction Mall

KEIKANTSE LESEMELA
Correspondent | Thursday July 12, 2012 00:00

 

The branch offers personal, excel and free internet banking to all customers  as well as a touch screen 24 hour ATM. Customers can also be assured of priority and SME banking services.Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Duncan Woods, head of Consumer Banking Botswana and cluster head of Consumer Banking for Southern Africa said the new opening is the bank's 14th fully-fledged branch and 18th outlet. 'It is the third channel offering priority service,' he said.He said the SME segment is an important operation of the bank.    'We have a very aggressive growth strategy this year which is centred on bringing banking to clients in the best form that meets their needs. Digital technology will play a very important part in this and we will be looking to enhance our platform to bring convenience and innovation,' said Woods.

Standard Chartered Bank CEO, Moatlhodi Lekaukau said the launch of online and mobile banking has been a very exciting development as it has added high levels of convenience and efficiency to the delivery of financial services to customers.Standard Chartered recently extended free banking to its customers by offering all current account holders free ATM cash withdrawals from other banks' ATMs. 'Online banking has meant that our corporate and retail customers can conduct banking from their offices and homes, while mobile banking has enabled us to reach thousands of customers even in remote areas that we previously were not able to provide banking services to,' said Lekaukau.

He noted that wholesale banking is also a very significant part of Standard Chartered business. 'We intend to expand our customer base in this platform, we will bring the right financing and risk management solutions as well as providing appropriate cash management and trade finance that suits their requirements,' he said.Standard Chartered Bank is one of few institutions in Botswana offering competitive terms for invoice discounting and purchase order financing which allows customers greater flexibility in meeting their business obligations. 'We understand the challenges of the SME sector and recognise the importance the segment plays in spurring economic activity and growth, and we will continue to find innovative ways to support our customers,' said Lekaukau.