GT Bank’s Habari virtual platform to fuse banking with lifestyle needs
SHUFFLING BE TWEEN VARIOUS digital applications to access lifestyle needs in shopping, selling, music, videos, chatting may not be necessary anymore with the unveiling of Guaranty Trust Bank’s Habari.
The digital application created from leading African financial institution’s exploit in reinventing its services with fintech unites customers everyday needs with banking service within the same virtual environment.
Habari also offers an end-to-end shopping experience that allows users buy goods and services directly from over 10,000 small businesses. It offers users direct access to the largest catalogue of local and foreign music online, a seamless shopping experience and an exciting way to connect with friends, payment of bills and instant account opening among others.
Different from the bank’s non-banking ventures such the SME Market Hub or Indani TV, Habari is the first mobile platform in Nigeria created by a financial institution that focuses on enabling people’s needs and lifestyles with a richer bouquet of banking products.
Segun Agbaje, the managing director and chief executive officer of the bank said the concept was part of a strategic move to prepare the bank for future sustenance in an era where people don’t really need banks but banking services.
The future competition for banks will no longer be other banks but the financial technology and telecommunication companies giving new dimension to satisfying the needs of customers better than the banks can, the CEO said noting that although banks may possess the financial muscle over tech companies, reinvention of banking must happen to avoid extinction.
“By reimagining the role of banking and driving innovation in how we serve customers, we have built a platform that is less about us as bank and more about our customers and everything they need to enable their lifestyle.” He said
“Habari is not a mobile banking application; it is the start of our journey towards building a platform that connects our customers to everything that they need, and which continues to evolve with their lifestyle. We are excited about this journey and we are confident that our customers will see in Habari a simple, smart and exciting digital experience that adds value to their lives, every day.”
The mobile application is open and free; does not require mobile banking details and offers a wide range of services, all of which are accessible regardless of the choice of bank.
Among the exciting services available on Habari are its catalogue of local and foreign music, the largest in the country, curated videos that range from short engaging self-help kits to fulllength movies and books that cut across all literary genres.
On Habari users can also shake their phones to find and connect with friends, split bills, transfer and receive funds as well as pay for utilities, subscriptions and other services.
GTBank has consistently positioned itself as a leading player in Africa’s banking industry, developing new models to financial services with technological innovations.