Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
The agency banking initiative of Ecobank Nigeria Limited tagged Xpress Point is expanding and going by the latest information, agents of the scheme are in no less than 30,000 locations spread across the country.
Business Post gathered that the agency banking scheme of the mid-level financial institution is driving entrepreneurship, providing employment opportunities and supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The lender is currently rewarding its Xpress Point agents across the six geo-political zones of the country with mouth-watering gifts for their increased transactions on the bank’s platforms.
“We are happy with our Xpress Point agents, knowing they are playing a crucial role in helping us reach out to the unbanked and underbanked in the society.
“That is why we have designed a reward system for them,” the Head of Agency Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Olanike Kolawole, said.
She further said the bank decided to show appreciation to them because “they are bringing more people to the banking space through their services.
“They carry out financial transactions on our behalf and earn commission on every transaction processed.
“The customer experience is very good as customers can do the simple deposit, payment, and transfers in their own neighbourhood rather than travel for hours to a bank branch.
“The Xpress Point is also a channel that is being used for the deployment of national social intervention programmes of the government.”
She said the Xpress Point agents offer other services like cash in, cash out, fund transfer, bills payment, airtime recharge, remittances and account opening, among others.
According to her, these services are available for MSMEs, sole proprietors, partnerships, co-operative societies, microfinance banks, companies with large distribution network – like petrol stations, FMCGs, telecommunication companies, super agents, aggregators and unregistered businesses such as petty traders, hair salon and others.
The banker urged youths and owners of small businesses (both men and women) to use this initiative to expand their revenue streams while offering this value-added service to customers.
“Are you looking for a business opportunity? Do you have a business and need an easy way to earn extra income? Xpress Point is the way.
“Become an Ecobank Xpress Point agent today and enjoy financial liberty. Xpress Points are Ecobank approved agent locations that bring easy banking services closer to your neighbourhood.
“Ecobank Xpress Point agents offer simple banking services to solve your financial needs without you having to visit the bank,” she said.
Ecobank boasts of a bouquet of digital channels comprising solutions aimed at delivering convenient, accessible and reliable financial services.
The USSD platform, *326#, makes it possible to open an Xpress account and Xpress Save account instantly. The bank’s mobile banking app, Ecobank Mobile offers the option of generating a virtual card among other functions; this comes in handy as customers are continually turning to web payments for their shopping.
The Ecobank virtual card offers the flexibility and convenience of creating a shopping card that is not linked to a customer’s account but is fully capable of carrying out online payments. The virtual card can also be shared with loved ones as a gift card for their own shopping.
