Founded in 1999, Metbank has steadily grown into a strong bank with a unique brand personality, respected for its commitment to providing customer-driven services. With branch representation in all of Zimbabwe’s major cities, the bank has over the years transformed itself into a more visible and accessible commercial bank. Metbank provides consumers, small business enterprises, corporate institutions and public sector enterprises with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking, credit, corporate banking, international banking and trade finance; treasury and investment banking services. Metbank has chosen Kenya’s Software Group to strengthen its digital banking offering as narrated by Corporate Watch Magazine’s Joan Wambui.
Software Group, a global software company with African headquarters in Kenya has secured a deal to digitize the operations of Metbank, one of the pioneers of digital banking in Zimbabwe.
Last year the company entered into a similar partnership with Unaitas – a Sacco that’s awaiting Central Bank of Kenya’s nod to become a commercial bank.
The software company, which is a leading provider of alternative delivery channel solutions will help Metbank enrich its digital offerings as it expands its reach. Software group also has African offices in Ghana and Nigeria.
Metbank will be relying on Agency, Internet and Mobile Banking solutions by Software Group to provide digital on-boarding to its customers and capture biometric data as part of the process.
The solutions will also allow the bank to increase its footprint in areas where it does not have branches, as well as make services easily accessible to its customers.
Agents will be able to process balance enquiries, mini statements printouts, cash deposit and cash withdrawals. The Internet and mobile banking solutions will serve both the individual and corporate customers of Metbank.
Some of the main functionalities available to individuals are the ability to transfer funds, make bill payments, stop or block cards, which are lost. Corporate customers will be able to use the same functionalities in addition to making bulk payments into individual accounts.
“Currently, Metbank serves around 70 000 customers from large corporations, small to medium enterprises, as well as individuals. They are one of the fastest growing institutions in Zimbabwe and we аre happy to support them in their digitization journey and help enhance the bank’s operations”, commented Russell Taylor, Chief Commercial Officer at Software Group.
“Software Group has extensive experience in the region providing alternative delivery channels for the financial domain and consulting on digitization best practices. We rely on establishing a long-term partnership to help us digitize our business and enable us to reach our customers even more effectively”, said Belmont Ndebele, Managing Director at Metbank. He added that the project with Software Group is one of the key steps for achieving the company’s business strategy.
Software Group is a global technology company that is specialized in delivery channel and integration solutions for institutions that provide financial services. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, it currently serves a worldwide client base in more than 65 countries from 9 regional offices located in Australia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines and the USA. Some of Software Group’s customers are organizations such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Fidelity Bank Ghana, LAPO Bank Nigeria, Unaitas Kenya, Botswana Post Asian Development Bank, Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU), etc.
