Ecobank has restated its commitment to improving financial inclusion in the country through its agency banking scheme, Xpress Points.
According to the bank, Xpress Points permits eligible bank agents to carry out financial transactions on behalf of the bank and earn commission on every transaction processed.
The initiative is structured to take financial service to the unbanked and under-banked population while also promoting entrepreneurship.
Speaking further on it,Head, Agency Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Nike Kolawole, assured of the convenience that comes with the service.
She noted that the initiative was thought of to ensure that Nigerian household has access to easy Ecobank services within their neighbourhood.
She said, “the consumer experience is very good as customers can do simple deposits, payments and transfers in their own neighbourhood rather than travel for hours to a bank branch.
“The bank currently has over 43,000 agents across Africa. The agents carry out financial transactions on behalf of the bank and earn commission per transaction processed.
“Xpress Points can also be used as channels for the deployment of national social intervention programmes, especially at this time that we are fighting the impact of lockdowns due to the COVID-19”.
Kolawole further pointed out that express points are well-positioned to facilitate basic financial transactions, with the process and services simplified to attend to a broad spectrum of society.
She said that that to the unemployed and retired can key into the initiative to avail themselves extra income.
Some of the services offered Xpress point agents included: cash in, cash out, fund transfer, bills payment, airtime recharge, remittance and account opening, among others.
The bank said the services are available for “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 saloon and others’’.