Barclays Kenya, soon to be Absa, has unveiled a new range of vertical debit and credit cards as part of changes that will take place as it transitions to Absa.
The vertical cards are considered the next generation debit and credit cards as they come with many advantages over the normal cards. Barclays Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori promised customers that the vertical cards will have many more features than the normal ones once they are launched.
Speaking during the launch, Awori said the vertical cards will allow customers to transact more conveniently as well as offer them a wide range of benefits including cashback rewards for all transactions and discounts in shopping outlets across the world.
“This transition is exciting for us because it has been much more than just changing colours. We have spent a lot of time with our customers to understand not just their needs but also their tastes and preferences,” Awori said.
“The Absa vertical cards are enabled with the tap and go technology which makes them future fit and a distinguishing feature for our customers. What’s more, the signature card-holders will enjoy free access to over 1,100 airport lounges around the world,” he explained.
The new cards are being rolled out on a pilot base and will be available for all customers upon the official launch of Absa in the country.
“We are now at the tail end of this transition programme, and we are confident that we shall complete the change in the not-so-distant future. We are proud of the milestones we have achieved in this journey so far and are now working with the regulator to align on the date when we will officially change our name to Absa,” Mr Awori said.
Aoart from the vertical cards, the bank said it would also be rolling out the Absa ChatBot to help customers get answers to frequently asked banking questions. The Absa ChatBot is a virtual assistant that will be answering customers’ questions via WhatsApp.
Also earmarked for launch is the MySMETool that allows business owners to perform important functions like planning and cashflow management online.
Additionally, the bank will also be launching the revamped Absa Mobile Banking app which, apart from allowing customers to pay bills, transact and airtime buying, will also allow them to use their fingerprint or facial recognition to unlock and gain access.
“Ultimately, this transition has enabled us to create new propositions and solutions as well as offer differentiated services and products to our customers, redefining their banking experience with us,” Mr Awori said.
