Absa regional operations tops retail banking in Africa

ABSA wins big at 2020 Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The role of Absa Group Limited’s Regional Operations (ARO) in using technology and coming up with strategic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, have earned them a top Global Retail Banking Innovation Award.

Absa Group Limited’s Regional Operations (ARO) have just were early thins month recognised as a leading industry player at this year’s, Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards (GRB) that is a Digital Banker initiative.

The awards focus on commending cutting-edge banks that blend the best technology with service-oriented mindsets to raise the bar in consumer banking. This accolade also encompassed the bank’s role in driving financial inclusion across the continent.

The Digital Banker awards exist to recognise and celebrate the world’s preeminent Financial Services Organisations that are pioneering unrivalled standards and capabilities in their respective fields.

“As a digitally-led bank, our focus is towards leveraging technology to provide high quality and affordable services evidenced by innovations rolled out across the continent including pioneer contactless functionality on Absa debit cards in Uganda, the NovoFX app a mobile application that allows retail customers make cros

Absa’s approach going forward will be to continue to place the customer at the heart of everything that it does. Adds Kumar, “For Absa, creating opportunities for our customers to make their possibility come alive is a mission always supported by action.”

Judges recognise ARO strengths

The judging panel – comprising experts from leading consultancies including EY and Forrester – selected ARO based on its significant achievements across Africa to date, including successfully completing one of the banking sector’s largest and most complex separation programmes from Barclays PLC.

In addition, ARO demonstrated a swift and strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only assisting customers with payment relief initiatives but also contributing extensively to local social relief efforts.

According to Nirav Patel, Managing Director at The Digital Banker, digital has been an impetus to a wave of innovations, both in front-end and back-end.

“This has allowed Absa, and its regional operation, to flourish as a leading and digital-first African financial services group. The bank is able to deliver customer experiences that are seamless, convenient and safe to use – and for that they truly deserved to win this award.”

VIDEO OF AWARDS GALA