Clients of First National Bank of Namibia (FNB) at Rundu are complaining about a lack of automatic teller machines, saying they now have to spend extended periods of time queuing to use ATMs, especially on paydays.

FNB recently removed three ATMs at the town, meaning there are now only three left to cater for clients.

One of the bank’s clients, Peter Mundiro told Nampa on Wednesday on payday he spends hours in a long queue waiting to use the ATM.

He complained about the removal of the three ATMs, saying it assisted greatly in reducing long queues by giving them more options.

“People travel long distances from villages in the two Kavango regions just to come and stand in long queues the whole day. Banks need to get up to speed,” he said.

FNB’s Executive Officer for Points of Presence, Rodney Forbes, on Thursday however encouraged customers to make use of active alternative channels or cash-in-store options to access cash, so as to minimise the long queues.

Forbes said over the past few years, FNB Namibia has focused on developing a strong financial service offering, with special emphasis on digitisation.

“This means we are constantly finding ways and means to ensure that every customer has access to banking services without a physical branch,” he explained.

He said expanding and increasing branches and its ATM footprint is not part of the bank’s overall digitalisation strategy.

FNB, he added, reviews its representation points and locations on a regular basis and takes into account other offerings, including digital banking technology such as USSD, online banking, the FNB app, as well as increasing the availability of alternative channels such as Cash-at-till, eWallet-at-till and CashPlus, especially in rural areas.

Source: Namibia Press Agency