BANK OF AFRICA launches new ATM card features to improve customer convenience

BANK OF AFRICA (BOA- Tanzania) Deputy Managing Director Wasia Mushi (right) Sales Manager Fortunatus Joachim (Second right), Acting Head of Digital Services Unit Aman Anord (left) and Marketing Manager, Beatrice Mirigo display newly launched VISA GREEN card in Dar es Salaam.

DAR ES SALAAM, December 22th 2021 – Bank of Africa in Tanzania have launched new interesting features for its ATM cards implemented in both the bank’s VISA and UMOJA SWITCH cards. The launch involved the introduction of the bank’s Prepaid card dubbed” VISA GREEN” and the introduction of the ATM cards interoperability features.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Managing Director for BANK OF AFRICA TANZANIA, Mr. Wasia Mushi said that; “the launch of the prepaid cards together with the introduction of the interoperability feature of our cards is to ensure that customers transactions are convenient and efficient.

These new interoperability feature will enable the banks customers to be able to perform transactions in any of the 18 African countries in which the bank is present which extends from West, East, Central and southern Africa.

Our prepaid cards also come as an added advantage to enable our clients to be able to perform cashless transactions during this holiday season, all you have to do is to top up your card and you are good to go, no need of walking with a lump sum of money which can be unsafe at times. Hence we guarantee you safety of your funds and transact anywhere with your card at hand.

The launch of the new card and the new interoperability feature is a demonstration of BANK OF AFRICA’s commitment to providing world-class products and services to its clients. Explained Mr. Mushi

The acting Chief Digital Officer, Mr. Amani Anord, added, “The interoperability feature is a services established by BOA group that will allow all the ATM cards for Bank of Africa customers to be accepted in BOA group network without rooting the transactions to international switch like visa, instead we will use our own BOA switch for processing the transaction and settlement.

This service will allow BOATZ cards (UMOJA SWITCH and VISA) originating from the bank to operate and to be accepted in ATMs of the BANK OF AFRICAs subsidiaries and to be treated as local transaction with fee defined system. To improve customer experience, convenience to utilize BANK OF AFRICA group Network and allow customers to transact in other BOA ATM with lower transaction fees compared to the international charges currently available.

Ladies and gentlemen, the beauty of using BANK’s prepaid paid card is that, it does not need to be linked to any of customers’ account to access this service. One can use the prepaid card to make purchase on line, shopping, payments of bills or use within family members.

Prepaid cards provide a relatively simple way to pay for purchases without taking out a line of credit or using a bank account. And they pose less risk since you have to load money onto the card in order to use it — perfect if you’re worried about overspending or misplacing your debit or credit card and giving fraudsters access to your debit or credit limits.

The introduction of these new features is intended to make it easier, safer, and faster for our customers to transact, Mr. Anord urged. “The cards improve customer convenience, and access to your funds is made ease.

Mr. Anord emphasizes that the roll-out of the new features and prepaid card is in line with their customers’ increasing preference for solutions that add ease and convenience to their lives.

“The shift away from cash and towards contactless payment methods has only been accelerated by the pandemic and will continue to grow under the new normal,” he says.

The bank strives to be at the forefront of new financial innovation and technology to make customers remotely access bank services. As they adjust to the new normal, they are dedicated to providing a comprehensive and seamless customer experience, reduce cash dependency and ultimately increase the adoption of digital payments and transaction platforms.

BANK OF AFRICA launches bancassurance in collaboration with Alliance Life and Alliance General Insurance

DAR ES SALAAM, December 8th 2021- BANK OF AFRICA, one of the leading Pan African multinational bank, has on Wednesday launched its bancassurance services in collaboration with Alliance life and Alliance General Insurance. The product dubbed “BIMA KWANZA” is set to bring changes in the insurance market in Tanzania while aiming at promoting financial inclusion and making the bank as a one stop center for all its clients’ needs.

Speaking during the launch Mr. Adam Mihayo, the Managing Director and CEO for BANK OF AFRICA-TANZANIA explained, “We are happy to launch the product because Bancassurance is becoming an important factor to support the overall growth of the financial services industry in many markets. Partnership between banks and insurance companies has significant benefits to clients as it enables them to get an expanded products and services suite, and also helps from a risk coverage perspective for potential default situations in case unforeseen occurrences happen to them.

I applaud the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority and the Bank of Tanzania for issuing the Bancassurance guidelines for banks and financial institutions in 2019, highlighting that they demonstrate a positive collaboration and development by the two regulators to enable growth and expansion in this segment through a coordinated and regulated manner.

As part of the policy for the 6th Phase Government under our President Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, the government is keen to see every Tanzanian has access to financial services. In this context we are pleased to introduce to you “BIMA KWANZA”. This will not only help our clients in securing their funds and wealth, but also their peace of mind and thus their wellbeing” remarked Adam.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Byford Mutimusakwa, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Life Assurance Limited, said that, we are excited about BIMA KWANZA milestone in which we are an active partner. We have partnered with BOA Bank in developing innovative products and winning strategies for the BOA bancassurance distribution channel. Through this partnership we are going to offer exceptionally and uniquely value adding life insurance solutions to our mutual clients. All this is encapsulated in our mission Statement ie “To be the Leading Life Assurance Provider that provides superior products and services for the benefit of Tanzanians”. Our products include Group Life products, Credit Life products, embedded products and Individual life products such as Education Policies, Keyman Policies, Protection and investment policies.

The Alliance Life Partnership with BOA Bank will enable the Bank to become a one Stop shop for banking and insurance services through the branch network of BOA Bank. This will give BOA Bank a competitive advantage in the market.

This is clearly a Win-Win partnership for all stakeholders. This will surely increase insurance penetration in Tanzania.

Mr Byford Mutimusakwa further said, Alliance Life Assurance Limited is a leading life insurance company and one the fastest growing life Insurance companies in Tanzania. We have been in the market for 23 years. Some of the large claims that we have paid include Tshs 2.9 billion (2019); Tshs 1 billion (2021) several claims between Tshs 500 million and Tshs 1 billion. This goes to prove our financial muscle and our commitment to service delivery. This is aptly captured in our values which are Integrity, commitment, speed and passion.

Speaking at the launch event, the Alliance General, Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Rajiv Kumar has said that Banca distribution channel has become a strong channel in order to make insurance products accessible to a large number of Tanzanians which aims to improve the penetration of insurance in all regions of the country.

This channel has also helped increase employment opportunities for young graduates. Through the partnership, Bank of Africa - Alliance Insurance Corporation Ltd, is now able to provide a one stop solution for both banking and general insurance products General to its customers across the branch network. For Building an omnichannel system like this, we have worked on creating a joint team of both Bank of Africa and Alliance Insurance Corporation Ltd employees, who are empowered to bring together all the functions involved in the effort in an agile way.

This new team will work on a target model that both the Bank of Africa and Alliance Insurance, use this as a means of supporting bold moves and providing full transparency. In addition, the team is empowered to constantly prioritize and adjust initiatives based on continuous feedback gathered along the way from functions such as analytics, campaign design, and management.

There are incredible growth opportunities for bancassurance, however, the key to capturing them lies in digital and analytics capabilities that will enable personalization, a superior customer experience, and an omnichannel offering. Customers want a solution and not just a insurance product, our aim will be to ensure customers experience hassle free by providing a number of value additions to client's insurance program including easy access for claims reporting, regular advises, follow-up and settlement.

The Principal officer for BANK OF AFRICA TANZANIA MS. Eva Kakwale also added “Another advantage is the leverage we have with our network, customers can now access insurance services in all the locations that BANK OF AFRICA is located all the way from Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Dodoma and all the strategic locations in major cities in the 11 regions that we are present in Tanzania.

Bank of Africa Tanzania will now become your one stop shop. The bancassurance distribution model allows our customers to get their insurance products along with an amalgamation of other financial services under one roof. Insurance used to be the missing piece of the puzzle which now Banc assurance completes. There are many more advantages to this but as a bank we offer our assurance of the best value for money”.

Improve life through financial education with Bank of Africa

Mr. Titus Masele, the Relationship Manager at BANK OF AFRICA explaining about the bank’s products and services to one of the clients visiting the bank’s booth during the National Financial Service week that was officially launched on the 10th November 2021 at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. This year the event was launched with the main theme “Improve life through financial education”

Mr. Titus Masele, the Relationship Manager at BANK OF AFRICA explaining about the bank’s products and services to one of the clients visiting the bank’s booth during the National Financial Service week that was officially launched on the 10th November 2021 at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. This year the event was launched with the main theme “Improve life through financial education” .

BANK OF AFRICA staff explaining about the bank’s products and services to clients visiting the bank’s booth during the National Financial Service week that was officially launched on the 10th November 2021 at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. This year the event was launched with the main theme “Improve life through financial education”.

BANK OF AFRICA DELEGATION PAYS A VISIT TO ZANZIBAR

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa BANK OF AFRICA Adam Mihayo akiwa na Mkurugenzi mkuu wa ZAN OCEAN, pembeni yake ni Mkurugenzi mtendaji wa ZAN OCEAN Suleiman Seif.

Kamishina wa bodi ya mapato Zanzibar Salim Yusuph Ali (katikati) pamoja na wajumbe wa Bank Of Africa (BOA) wakiongozwa na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji na mkurugenzi mkuu Adam Mihayo (wa pili kulia) walipotembelea ofisi za kamishka ZRB jana. Wengine ni Mkurugenzi msaidizi Samir Yassine ( wa pili kushoto) Mkuu wa idara ya wateja wa reja reja Ninaeli Mndeme (kulia) na mkuu wa Business Emmanuel Nzella

Waziri wa Biashara na Maendeleo ya Viwanda wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar, Omar .S. Shaban (wa pili kutoka kushoto) akiwa katika picha ya pamoja na ujumbe wa BANK OF AFRICA (BOA) ukiongozwa na Mkurugenzi Mkuu mpya, Adam Mihayo (kushoto) ulipotembelea ofisi kwake jana, wengine pichani ni Naibu Mkurugenzi wa BOA, Samir Yassine (kulia) na Mkurugenzi wa wakala wa kuendeleza Biashara ndogo na za kati Zanzibar (SMIDA), Soud Ali.