Rawbank, a leading bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has implemented IT solutions from IBM for its expansion and growth plans, allowing customers to receive notifications of bank transactions through text message among many other innovations.
The IBM Smarter Computing also enables Rawbank’s customers to access payment services through their pre-paid cards to pay for bills and goods without carrying cash.
The IBM solution has provided the technology architecture and flexibility that the bank is utilizing to provide a suite of new products including Internet banking, mobile banking, SMS banking and several card-based solutions to service a wider set of customers, according to Rawbank.
“This implementation has allowed us to reach new customers while extending increased security options and improved client satisfaction to our existing customers,” Thierry Taeymans, Rawbank Chief Executive Officer said. “In spite of infrastructure challenges in the DRC, this technology allows us to serve our clients faster, with significantly reduced waiting time, and launch a 24 hour customer service hotline.”
In a country where a majority of the population does not have bank accounts and Internet and communication amenities are substandard, this is a big step for the bank. The new IBM implementation has made the company serve almost twice the number of the customers it is used to and is even looking to increase its branch network.
Jean-Christophe Knoertzer, IBM Central East and West Africa General Manager, said: “By modernizing its core systems, Rawbank is well-positioned to meet the growing market of banking customers in Africa.
“The IBM solution provides a flexible foundational architecture that can adapt quickly and scale as the bank’s business changes in response to new customer requirements.”
Other competing companies that were on track to sign on Rawbank include HP and Microsoft. Over 25 banks in Africa have implemented the IBM Smarter Computing system for their processes.
