FNB launches own brand of smartphones in South Africa
South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB) has launched its own brand of smartphones in South Africa which, according to the company, is expected to redefine mobile banking and customer mobility.
“For FNB, mobile banking is more than just having the best banking app,” says Jan Kleynhans, CEO of the FNB Consumer Segment. “For us, true mobile banking is enabling customers to bank anywhere, anytime using smartphone technology at very affordable prices for our customers.”
FNB is offering customers the choice of two smartphones, the ConeXis A1 and X1 respectively. According to FNB, the A1 is aimed at the price-sensitive Easy bank account holder… while the X1 is aimed at Gold and Premium customers.
According to FNB, it will offer up to a 100% rebate on the X1 monthly instalments depending on the customer’s eBucks Rewards level. Gold customers on eBucks Rewards level of 3, 4, 5 will be rebated R60, R90, R150 (100%) on the monthly repayment respectively. Premium customers will be rewarded from level 1.
“In line with the global trend towards convergence in digital migration, we believe that it’s critical to empower our customers with smartphones that not only improve their banking and mobile experience, but are also affordable and of a high quality,” said Kartik Mistry, head of smart devices at FNB.
FNB has tightly integrated the ConeXis smartphone offering with its rewards and banking programme which incentivises the correct products, behaviour and mobile phone usage by rewarding customers with attractive cellular discounts. FNB-banked customers can earn up to 40% on their monthly cellular spend dependent on their eBucks Rewards level.
“The FNB offering is also structured to encourage a savings culture through the use of convenient and cost-effective savings platforms,” adds Kleynhans.
The smartphone comes on the back of the FNB Connect cellular offering launched in 2015, which seamlessly integrates customer’s financial and mobile accounts on a single banking platform.
“We introduced the Connect offering to give customers control over cellular spend, by converging cellular and bank accounts on a single client profile and platform,” says Kleynhans.
FNB also announced the introduction of the FNB Connect Unlimited Calls offer, which allows subscribers to make unlimited local calls to any network for only R399 per month. The new Unlimited Calls offer can be taken up together with the FNB ConeXis smartphone deal or any other branded mobile phone.
The Unlimited offer is available to customers from 24 August 2016 while the FNB ConeXis smartphones will be available at selected FNB branches from 1 September 2016. When taking up the smartphone offer, customers will be taken through the unique features and benefits, including how they can manage their cellular costs.
FNB has zero-rated calls when FNB Connect customers make calls to FNB’s Banking Call Centre, thus providing another means to bank anywhere using FNB Connect.
These new FNB products introduce a bold new era for banking where fees, transparency, control and mobility are the centre of helpfulness
“Not only will customers save time and money on their everyday banking, they will also save on other expenses such as their cellular spend through our market leading prices on data and voice. At the end of the day, we understand that every cent counts, and we are committed to continuing to help our customers on the mobile banking journey,” concludes Kleynhans.
