Mobile Money users, who are also customers of MTN and Ecobank in 12 African countries, may soon be able to withdraw cash from Ecobank ATMs and transfer money between their Mobile Money and Ecobank accounts.
Already, the service had been piloted in Ghana last month, and will soon be launched in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, the Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Congo Brazzaville, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Zambia.
The pan-African companies have partnered to improve access to mobile financial services in the African continent, with vast experience in extending financial services in several of their markets, with MTN’s Mobile Money registered subscriber base growing 57.3 per cent to 14.8 million in 2013.
“We are extending our co-operation in Africa to expand the range of services provided, as well as to further explore the development of mobile financial services in these countries.
“MTN is particularly excited by this agreement as it fits in perfectly with our on-going efforts to improve access to financial services for our customers and broader communities in the countries where we operate,” Pieter Verkade, MTN group chief commercial officer, said.
Ecobank’s group executive director for Domestic Banking, Patrick Akinwuntan added, “this roll-out further demonstrates our commitment to make branchless banking a reality by activating multiple service channels in every country in which we operate.
“Our unique pan-African footprint will also enable us to be at the forefront of developing the market for cross-border mobile money services in Africa.”
Meanwhile, Ecobank has rewarded winners that emerged from its Card-4-Prizes’ first monthly draws held in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
The 15 lucky winners, which emerged from electronic draw witnessed by officials from National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC); Consumer Protection Council (CPC); among others, were rewarded with smart phones; LCD televisions; air conditioners; home theatres and power generating sets.
According to Tunde Kuponiyi, bank’s head, Cards and e Banking, promo is part of efforts in supporting the use of alternative payment channels by customers and also strengthening the CBN’s cash-less policy.
He explained that the promo planned to run for three months will see customers of the bank winning prizes that includes sedan cars, all-expense paid trip to Brazil and scholarships valued N300, 000 each for different sets of winners to be drawn from different parts of the country.
To select winners, Kuponiyi affirmed that “a point-based rating” would be applied, meaning that the winning customers would be awarded points for every transaction done on the bank’s alternative channels.