Durban, 8 April 2013 – Following the success of the first dotFNB branch, which opened in April 2012, five stores have since opened around South Africa, including a dotFNB store at Galleria Arbour Town, Amanzimtoti, which opened in December 2012 – the first of its kind in Durban.
The dotFNB footprint includes three stores in Johannesburg, one in Centurion, one in Cape Town and one in KZN. Approximately 4 000 people visit each of the stores monthly, fast becoming a popular touch point for customers.
“DotFNB entrenches FNB’s dominance of digital banking channels and shows the bank’s strategy of on-going innovation. We understand the global trend of convenience, especially for consumer services, like banking. With this growing momentum of digital, self-service banking, customer experience has become an even more important element in our business,” says Kim Gibson-van der Walt, Head of dotFNB, FNB Banking Channels.
The store provides a virtual environment in which to experience FNB’s service and product offerings, in a tangible form, by engaging with unique mechanisms that have never before been seen in branches, including an interactive financial planning Microsoft surface as well as video-conference cubicles. Customers are migrated to the bank’s digital platforms and are also educated on how best to use these platforms to simplify their banking experience.
“The store creates a balance between what we believe to be the future of banking and the need for human interaction. Sales and service pods are designed in such a way that customers sit alongside the bankers, sharing the experience of discussing their banking portfolio, choosing a device and setting it up with the FNB digital channels, like the Banking App, ” states Gibson-van der Walt.
Apart from advanced deposit-taking ATM’s outside these branches, dotFNB is completely cashless. All visitors, FNB customers and non-FNB customers, can browse products and services and apply for them instantly. Non-FNB customers can also open a cheque account on the spot and apply for a smart phone, tablet or other available device.
“We are living in a digital era and although traditional branches are here to stay, we need to offer relevant solutions to our clients. We believe that the link between education and banking on digital platforms needs to be readily available to clients, so that they can experience a marked impact on their lifestyles and the way they bank in the future,” concludes Gibson-van der Walt.
Current store locations:
- Kwazulu Natal
- Galleria Arbour Town, Amanzimtoti, Durban
- Gauteng
- Nicolway Shopping Centre, Bryanston
- Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Hyde Park
- Centurion Mall, Centurion
- Eastgate Shopping Centre, Bedfordview
- Cape Town
- Cavendish Square, Claremont, Cape Town
*dotFNB stores operate as per the mall trading hours*
Interesting technology at dotFNB:
- Microsoft Surface featuring interactive calculators
- Video conference booths, provides immediate access to specialists in Business Banking, Home Loans and Share Investing
- Staff are technically trained to assist with device set up and basic troubleshooting
- Smart devices are showcased in the dotFNB stores, and upon completing the qualifying scoring, clients can take up the device of their choice and walk out with this device set up and the FNB app loaded on the device
- Interactive Augmented Reality Application
I purchased an I-pad in July 2012. I was downloading ios7 softwear but it has now stopped and is frozen on the setting screen. It is in this mode for more than a month. Will you be able to assist me?
Hi Nesha,
The best option would be taking it to a local Apple store