CuentaRut & Caja Vecina form Chilean bank's agent banking scheme.
BRUSSELS, 10 April 2018 – BancoEstado and small store owner
Ester Roa Basaez has made wheelchairbound
Amanda Vergara Flores’ life
easier in Puente Alto, Chile.
An account holder under the CuentaRUT
offering, considered a “Vista Account”
and operates with a debit card, Amanda
can manage money securely: deposit,
transfer or withdraw money and/or pay
in different stores. There is no monthly
maintenance fee and it has no access
limitations. Women over 12 years and men over 14 years cans receive an account.
Related to CuentaRUT is Caja Vecina, a modern, innovative agent banking scheme
system that allows people, clients and non-clients – living far from centric sectors – to
access various financial services offered by BancoEstado in local shops. This means she
no longer has to make the trek to the BancoEstado office in her city. Instead, she can
depend on Caja Vecina’s easy access format, including extended hours. Through the
Caja Vecina, CuentaRUT allows customers to make withdrawals, deposits, transfers
between BancoEstado accounts, pay service and credit accounts, consult balances and
transfers in an easy, fast and safe way.
Caja Vecina is not only a powerful way to help people gain access and use financial
service, it’s also good business for local businesses like the one owned by Ester. Part of
the programme since 2006, she has seen the success of Caja Vecina first hand.
It encourages savings by customers, helps boost traffic to her store and sets her apart
from other businesses in the area. She first learned about Caja Vecina while listening
to the radio. It took her less than a month to set up the service in here store. Years later,
it still serves people in the community, including Amanda.
Why it’s important
BancoEstado improves access to financial services by people who live in remote areas
thanks to Caja Vecina while assessing
the impact that its activities have on
society. It’s part of an important,
fundamental role played by BancoEstado
to boost access to financial services for
individuals and micro, small and
medium-sized enterprises who seek
financing in Chile. It also supports
several public policies and contributes to
economic growth of the country by
paying taxes, generating utilities and
providing liquidity.