KENYA:How ‘branchless banks’ took over country

By COLLINS OMULO

Ever since M-Pesa was launched in Kenya 10 years ago, there has not been any other innovation that has come close to revolutionising and transforming the money transfer sector like agency banking.

If you can’t beat them, join them, and most banks in the country have he.eded the adage through the establishment of agents spread in every corner of the country.

Launched in 2011 following an amendment in the banking laws in January 2011 to allow commercial banks to offer their services through third-party businesses, agency banking has experienced tremendous growth and is arguably the darling of people in slums and rural areas with no access to banks.

The innovation handles millions of dollars every month.

BANKING HALL

The decision by banks, namely, Equity, Co-operative and Kenya Commercial Bank, to offer formal banking services at the grassroots by devolving services has since seen millions of Kenyans embrace the service and in the process avoid the hustle of having to visit a traditional banking hall

Aimed at reducing the cost of financial transactions and allowing banks a cost-effective way to expand its reach without necessarily investing in brick and mortar, the branchless banking system has tapped into the millions of the unbanked population mostly in the informal settlements and upcountry, who have the capacity to engage in profitable banking relationships but do not have access to the formal banking infrastructure.

The outcome is that every neighbourhood in the country now enjoys such services.

Co-op Kwa Jirani, Equity Agency and KCB Mtaani agents, all launched in 2011 to enable Kenyans access banking services at their neighbourhoods, are now ubiquitous in informal settlements, only outdone by M-Pesa agents.

A survey in Nairobi by the Nation noted that many Kenyans are fast turning to agency banking, with many shopping outlets and petrol stations hardly missing an agent.

AGENCY BANKING

But why the robust embrace of the agency banking system?

Mr Moses Yator, who has been operating a KCB Mtaani agency and an Equity Agency at his shop at the Olympic Junction in Kibera slum for the past three years, says people from all walks of life have taken to the relatively new system because virtually all services that are provided at the bank are also readily available through the agents.

Mr Yator adds that with the small gadgets, one can do cash withdrawals, deposits, funds transfer, fees payment, pay utility bills, NHIF payments and even other government payments such as tax.

“Many people, especially businessmen and women, are now using this service as opposed to formal banks, as it has eliminated the hustles like lining up at banks,” he says.

He adds that he makes at least 20 transactions a day on slow days and close to 50 transactions on a busy day. Mr John Mutisya, who has an account with Equity Bank, praises the innovation, saying it has made his life easy as he has an array of agents to choose from and he does not necessarily have to board a bus to withdraw or deposit money like before.

NO QUEUES

“It is very convenient and effective and just like an ATM, you can get cash from anywhere without much struggle because of no queues. It also is relatively cheaper and secure when compared to M-Pesa,” says Mutisya

In Mathare, Mr Yusuf Omondi runs an Equity Agency and has been in the business for three years. He praises agency banking for opening up the traditional banking space by tapping into the grassroots by bringing services to their doorsteps.

While talking to Mr Omondi, a customer Sarah Atieno comes in to do a transaction through her Equity card.

“I had an emergency and I had no money in M-Pesa and it being a weekend, I would have been in a tough situation,” said Ms Atieno.

But amidst all the positives, the service has been faulted for system failures resulting in delays.

Equity Agent outlets are estimated to be over 10, 000across the country.

SOURCE: DAILY NATION