NIC Bank rolls out new Mobile Banking Platform

• Personalized Mobile Banking App. to enable multiple Banking services on mobile devices
• High  mobile phone penetration pushes customers  to embrace electronic and mobile commerce, raising the demand for efficient applications

Kenya's NIC Bank has introduced a new mobile application which enables customers enjoy speedier transactions on handheld devices. Dubbed “NIC Now”, the Mobile App offers a convergence of solutions delivering both banking services and lifestyle information on mobile devices.

“The phenomenal growth in mobile phone use has created a whole new customer channel. Mobile transactions have grown rapidly in the last five years making it necessary for banks to develop innovative solutions that tap into the advantages brought about by mobile technology”, said Mr. John Gachora –NIC Bank, Group MD.

The Mobile App. is available for all NIC Customers with Android, IOS, and Blackberry including all Windows Smartphones. Only those subscribed will access the app. features via the application which users will receive an activation key and start pin to access the service.

“The application is much faster and more convenient for all mobile banking transactions since it offers more informative and fun features alike from news, cinema guides and verses from the Bible & Quran”

“With mobile services & sales rapidly growing we expect that more than half of everyday transactions will be through the phone. This adoption to new age banking, innovative and personalized multi-channel banking experience on ATM, Internet, and now the Mobile app and social media interface will help drive NIC Bank’s new media strategy”, Adds Gachora.

The bank has been running on the popular (*488#) USSD Mobile Banking platform that looks to phase out in favour of Elma - an application developed locally that is tied to a particular network and gives an increased level of interactivity with bank accounts and speedier transactions.

“The increase in Smartphone usage has prompted the Bank to move towards the provision of an application that is not dependent on their mobile service provider. The concept of convenience banking has since shifted from the physical branches to mobile phone platform, which is now an integral part of our lives”, opines Gachora.

The new platform powered by Elma is a banking solution from Local software solutions provider Craft Silicon. Elma, unlike other mobile money transfer services currently in the market is not tied to a particular network and gives an increased level of interactivity with bank accounts. Key features of the application include heightened speed of transactions through the App-.e.g. MPESA takes less than 60 seconds and RTGS also takes only a few minutes compared to functions on the USSD platform and the ability to integrate on cross section of Smartphones offer an edge.

The NIC Now Mobile App offers a subscribed customer with access to account balances, M-pesa and bill payments. Customers can access the App from the respective App.stores on their phones in easy steps.