Barclays to promote card transactions

By BUSINESS REPORTER BARCLAYS Bank Zambia has intensified its public awareness programme on the benefits of cashless transactions.

Bank’s head of marketing and corporate relations Mato Shimabale, said that was being done through various initiatives such as campaigns and promotions.

He said one such promotion is the K200, 000 worth Smart Spend Promotion which ran between December 2017 and February 2018.

Mr Shimabale said the promotion, which he said was successful, saw transactions on mobile point of sale terminals increased by 17 percent.

“For us at Barclays this kind of promotion is not about providing excitement or doing them for the sake of doing them. It’s about ensuring we promote a certain kind of behavior. Because it’s about changing the way traditional banking has been done all along,

“It was not uncommon not too long ago when people could walk into a show room at one of the companies selling cars and buy a car using cash. They would walk into a big supermarket or stores and buy television sets, stereos with cash. But that is inefficient,” he explained.

Mr Shimabale said using card was not only convenient and secure but also had a positive impact on the economy as it promoted productivity.

“Instead of you having to walk to an ATM or go to the bank to withdraw cash you can actually use your card to just swipe and carry out the transaction. And this is the bigger agenda we are trying to promote it in terms of pushing for simpler banking and convenient banking,

“It’s about making the life of our customers simpler and convenient. By paying by card, by carrying out transaction on your mobile phone or online that’s convenient for them,” said Mr Shimabale

Mr Shimabale said the Bank was taking advantage of the current mobile penetration in Zambia which stood at about 75 percent and internet at around 30 percent, to promote mobile banking.