Kenya member, WSBI sign MoU
Scale2Save Campaign
Micro savings, maximum impact.
Momentum continues under WSBI's Scale2Save programme as Kenya Post Office Savings Bank and WSBI signed today a Memorandum of Understanding for the innovation-driven postal savings bank to drive greater financial inclusion.
Innovative ‘Bank in A Bag’ project to improve bank reach, add 5000 savings groups, some 67,000 customers
Updated: 21 November 2018 [Inserts Scale2Save programme branding]
BRUSSELS, 5 December 2017 – Momentum continues under WSBI’s Scale2Save programme as Kenya Post Office Savings Bank and WSBI signed today a Memorandum of Understanding for the innovation-driven postal savings bank to drive greater financial inclusion.
The Nairobi-based institution, also known as Postbank will take part in the Mastercard Foundation-supported program by launching a “Bank in A Bag” concept and deploying staff with it to where customers – both individuals and savings groups – meet. The Bank in A Bag contains needed record-keeping materials and ICT equipment such as a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, laptop computer, an Android tablet and a router. The equipment will enable end-to-end processing of account opening for individual customers in remote locations outside a traditional brick-and-mortar branch.
Anne W. Karanja, Managing Director, said: “Bank in A Bag lifts some of the barriers to access and usage of banking services in rural Kenya, especially distance and cost. Financial education will also play a big part in the work by WSBI and KPOSB, enabling the bank to execute a strategy to acquire, activate and retain savers.”
With the support of WSBI, Postbank will build on the newly developed and its already-piloted Mchama product, a mobile savings and payments service for village groups to deepen the reach, scale and sustainability of low balance accounts as well as address dormancy of accounts. They will continue to train 400 Postbank agents and continuous group financial literacy training programs. They will also continue to expand their pool of Community-Based Trainers, sales ambassadors who will support the recruitment and training of village groups.
WSBI Managing Director Chris De Noose said: “It’s the second memorandum signed in the last two months by WSBI and partner banks in Africa to demonstrate the business case of small-scale savings. We look to assist Postbank in their aim to onboard 5,000 groups and 66,744 new accounts active by the project end date in 2020.”
Pilot preparation on the Bank in A Bag project starts this month with a scheduled January 2018 implementation start date.
Notes to editors:
About Kenya Post Office Savings Bank
The Kenya Post Office Savings Bank (Postbank) is primarily engaged in the mobilization of savings for national development. Postbank is committed to creating business growth while ensuring that delivery of services is done in an ethical and socially responsible manner. The bank considers the interests of the community and strives to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and corporate responsibility in service delivery. Corporate Social Responsibility is fundamental to its culture and core values, with focus placed on environment, health, financial Literacy and education. Wholly owned by the Government of Kenya and reports to the Ministry of Finance, Postbank is committed to the standards of corporate governance as set by the government and the Central Bank of Kenya for the public sector. Learn more
About the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute
WSBI represents the interests of 6,000 savings and retail banks globally, with total assets of $14tn and serving one billion customers in nearly 80 countries (as of 2014). WSBI focuses on international regulatory issues that affect the savings and retail banking industry. It supports the aims of the G20 in achieving sustainable, inclusive, and balanced growth, and job creation, whether in industrialised or less developed countries. WSBI favours an inclusive form of globalization that is just and fair, supporting international efforts to advance financial access and financial usage for everyone.
Scale2Save
In focus: Customer centric banking
Scale2Save Campaign
Micro savings, maximum impact.
MOMBASA, 19 March 2019 – More than 40 banking experts from banks and organisations focused on Africa convened from 19-21 March to discuss how African banking can better address make small-scale savings work. The gathering brought experts for a three-day workshop to share learning as part of the Scale2Save programme – a partnership between WSBI and Mastercard Foundation to establish the viability of small-scale savings in Africa.
>> See the workshop event site
>> Learn more about Scale2Save
>> Read Scale2Save 2019 report
>> Read Scale2Save 2018 report
Day 1 tackled the results of a new report by WSBI on savings and retail banking in Africa that shows the struggle banks face with customer centricity – the ability to provide people with products and services that they will take up and use based on need. The Scale2Save programme report pulls data from dozens of WSBI member banks on the continent on how banks are tackling how savings by people in the region can be made more usable, affordable, accessible and sustainable through better understanding what people want from their bank to spur savings activity at local level from cities to village and everywhere in between. Three panel session scheduled look at creating value through customer experience, making digital channels work for financial service providers as well as the business case for linkage banking, a way of connecting banks and people at grassroots level.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Scale2Save Programme Director Ian Radcliffe (pictured left) presented results of the Scale2Save report. He was followed by PostBank of Kenya Managing Director Anne Karanja, who explained the importance of finding a viable way for savings to thrive. Following Mrs. Karanja’s remarks, a first panel looked at customer centricity and how best to address the gap between what customer needs and what banks provide. A second panel explored digital aspects of savings, and how importance of knowing how the poor save, use and move money. A third final panel took a deep dive into linkage banking, a way for banks to connect with savings mechanisms like village savings group
Day 2 took a first-hand look at how PostBank in Kenya is serving the poor in Ukunda County, with visits to agents and savings groups. Day 3 had breakout sessions on business models for savings groups and how best to manage third-party partnerships such as with Mobile Network Operators.
The next Scale2Save Peer Review Workshop is scheduled for October in Washington.
>> See the workshop event site
