Interior of a dotFNB branch (Image supplied).
South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) has launched another dotFNB branch in its BankCity Precinct in Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD), in celebration of dotFNB’s first birthday and supporting Johannesburg’s inner-city rejuvenation.
HumanIPO reported in March on the first dotFNB branch launched in Cape Town, South Africa, now one of seven in the country.
Kim Gibson-van der Walt, head of dotFNB, said: “The BankCity dotFNB provides a touch point for FNB to widen its reach of those exposed to how technology and innovation, coupled with the FNB product and service offering, can simplify banking.”
The dotFNB branches are best described as a virtual banking environment in which “unique mechanisms” are utlised.
They include interactive services including eBucks and savings calculators, FNB Connect training videos and more.
Demacon Market Studies conducted a research report in which they estimated the presence of 8,704 formal businesses in Johannesburg CBD with more than 800,000 commuters making their way through the CBD on a daily basis.
Furthermore, 90 per cent of these commuters reportedly possess mobile phones, while 44 per cent use email. This, together with Demacon’s research, proved the Johannesburg CBD was an ideal spot for a new dotFNB branch.
“Given the momentum that digital self-service banking has gathered over the last few years, the customer experience has become an even more important element in our business and the move towards greater service and product delivery via our digital channels,” said Gibson-van der Walt.
She added: “We are living in a digital era and see digital banking as a crucial element for FNB’s future success and anytime, anywhere convenient banking for our customers. DotFNB allows us a platform to bring FNB’s digital lifestyle offering to the heart of Jozi.”
The past few years have seen the undertaking of several projects within the Johannesburg CBD, which has in turn attracted business, new residential developments as well as an increase in cosmopolitan residents.
“Johannesburg is not only seeing growth in cosmopolitan residents, but has become a weekend playground where people gather at rooftop markets, theatres and downtown bioscope experiences,” said Kim Gibson-van der Walt, head of dotFNB, FNB banking channels.
