Last week, the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) launched the second phase of the banking website, Al Ahly Net, which will add many banking services to its current phase one services.
This is part of the bank’s plan to expand its e-banking services to its customers and to provide new alternative channels for services.
According to Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the NBE, Hisham Ahmed Okasha, the Internet banking services come within the framework of the strategy adopted by the bank to activate the decisions and objectives of the National Council for Electronic Payments, and support the concept of financial inclusion, as one of the pillars of economic development and financial and social stability.
He added that the Internet banking service attracts a large segment of potential customers and contributes significantly towards maintaining existing customers, especially the youth, who prefer to use modern technology and smart communication devices to electronically access their banking services, through fast and secure means, in order to achieve their meet their expectations and contribute to enriching their lifestyles and activities.
Okasha pointed out that the NBE has developed an ambitious and deliberate plan to expand the concept of financial inclusion in the coming period through several axes that were developed following a thorough study of the banking market, and the needs of existing and prospective customers. It was found that it is necessary to expand Internet banking services.
According to Deputy Chairperson of NBE, Yehia Aboul Fotouh, the Internet banking service provides customers with the ease and freedom of full banking transactions, in a full electronic manner 24/7 without having to bother to go to the bank’s offices.
He added that this service reduces the time and effort spent on obtaining banking services and significantly reduces the crowding in the branches of the bank for service. He pointed out that the bank aims to serve the largest customer base in Egypt of 11 million customers.
He confirmed that the second phase of the Internet banking includes many new services, such as the possibility of buying and redeeming Platinum savings certificates and a number of other certificates and saving instruments in different currencies, which is taking place for the first time in Egypt, in addition to linking, terminating, and amending long-term deposits, and opening sub-accounts for clients.
The first phase of this service includes the possibility of querying the balances of accounts and credit cards and allowing the transfer of transactions between different customer accounts, and transfer to the accounts of others inside and outside the bank, in addition to the payment service balance of different credit cards for the customer.
According to Deputy Chairperson of the NBE Dalia El-Baz, Internet banking services depend mainly on the strength of the technological infrastructure, systems, and software available to the bank, which the bank is keen to develop, and update continuously.
She noted that the bank has introduced a new system in April 2017, which enabled advanced technological solutions, to improve the services provided to all customers of the bank and provide electronic solutions to deal with the certificates and saving vessels, which, alone, hold some 70% of transactions conducted in branches.
She added that Internet banking services will include new services such as dealing on investment certificates, which is planned to be completed by the middle of 2019.
