The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has failed to compete with other banks in online banking services, according to a survey. The country’s largest bank NBP does not even have the facility to check online banking service, survey revealed.
“We are still unable to work and upgrade our online banking services,” said manager of a Karachi branch of the NBP after queries over computerised services compared with services offered by other banks. “Definitely we have facilities but it may take 6 to 12 months to cover the entire country,” said NBP spokesperson Ali Zaib on Thursday while referring to queries put forward by customers.
“NBP has already launched its core banking application in 2010 and continuing the IT progress by recently converting Islamabad and Quetta regions completely online,” said spokesperson of the NBP. “The strategy is to convert majority of our branches online by the end of this year for which work is in progress,” he said.
He maintained that the bank was currently in the implementation phase of Core Banking System. The NBP is the only bank in Pakistan with formal empowerment programme and works in remotest areas of the country, he added. The bank has 22 correspondent banks and exchange companies worldwide to facilitate remitters and beneficiaries to enjoy NBP remittance services without any charge and fees.
“But it is again repeatedly regretted that its services are not satisfactory and need improvement to compete with the private sector banks,” said a leading member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ