HBL prepares to step into branchless banking

HBL’s debut in branchless banking business will create competition in the market. PHOTO: PROPAKISTANI

KARACHI: Habib Bank Limited (HBL) is ready to step into the branchless banking market with its partnership with Ufone, Sybase 365 and AbacusConsulting by 2012.

HBL’s debut in the branchless banking business will create competition among other established names in the market like Easy Paisa (a joint venture of Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Bank), UBL Omni (a branchless banking venture of United Bank Limited) and Mobilink’s branchless banking which is a team-up with Nadra’s e-sahulat.

Sybase 360, which is the global leader in mobile messaging and mobile commerce services will provide technology support and Abacus Consulting a leading management and technology consultancy firm will deploy the project.

According to sources, HBL has invested millions of dollars for the marketing of the project as it aims to launch the project on a large scale.

HBL claims that their branchless banking solution will introduce more Unique Selling Points (USPs) by enabling customers to pay taxi fares, gas station charges or other similar retail transactions with their mobile phones. HBL’s branchless banking will also offer international remittances from mobile phones as well.

Azfar Jamal, head of branchless banking at HBL, in a conversation with ProPakistani said that Sybase 365 will provide technological infrastructure and software solution for the project, while Ufone will give USSD access and Abacus Consulting will be responsible for the deployment of the project.

However, HBL’s partnership with Ufone won’t be exclusive as they may get other operators on board to expand their market reach.

HBL currently operates through a nationwide network of 1500 branches and it plans to get about four-five million of their existing customers for branchless banking solutions.

A version of this post originally appeared on ProPakistani.