The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world a year ago has made one thing painstakingly clear: 

“Innovation is no longer an option, but a necessity. We have seen how the recent crisis has spurred the need for transformation; for organisations to adapt and innovate in order to emerge stronger”. – Rajiv Sodhi, Microsoft India

Businesses that are quick to adapt to these new demands, stand a better chance of survival than those that are slow movers. These businesses will also need to keep abreast with changing customer demands and adapt their customer service practices to better serve a world in lockdown. 

Steward Bank might have caught onto this already if their recent work is anything to go by.  As part of their campaign, ‘All In The Apps”, the Bank has been delighting the market with a couple of new and improved services, positioned, it would seem, to provide more banking service options to customers digitally.

The Bank revamped their website to a clean, uncluttered design with improved functionality and enhanced content focused on the services and products that they offer. A browse through the website shows it now has quick and easy access to essential information on mobile banking, cards, and lending facilities. Integrated into the website are social icons that will direct users to the Bank’s social media platforms.  Embedded in the new website is an upgraded Online Banking platform. The new Online Banking platform provides comprehensive proof of payment (POP) generation for online payments and simplified statement downloads. Users will enjoy a fully automated registration process and the ability to make bulk payments, further reducing the need to visit the Bank. 

Steward Bank, which seems to be steadily reviewing services for all their products, also launched the Visa Mobile Application to offer remote and unlimited access to their Visa cardholders. The App allows users to keep track of their card cash reloads, cash withdrawals, POS and online transactions, as well card balance in real-time. The Visa mobile App is available on Google Play Store and IOS App Store. Another addition to the Visa offering is Visa Direct where family and friends can safely transfer funds from their Visa cards directly into the Steward Bank Visa card from anywhere in the world via an enabled e-wallet. 

Most likely, the enhanced Steward Bank Mobile Banking Square Application is what a volume of their customers will appreciate and enjoy. The application, whose design is as clean as the Online Banking, reflects an understanding of consumer wants and needs. The registration process is easy, allowing customers with no ZimSwitch cards access to the application. Now offered on the application is a second authorisation process, enhancing the security features of the app. Customers will also now have the ability to reset their pin, which is also a new feature. All the other functionalities on the old application have been retained, customers can make bill payments, bank transfers, and check their balance on the go. The Bank leverages technology to provide a better experience and more control to customers through the application.

Last year Steward Bank introduced PurpleKonnect, a video-based banking platform that is offered through Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, or Sasai. Authorized Bank personnel receive customer instructions via the platform and help customers perform all their banking transactions instantly and in the comfort of their homes. 

The Bank has been upgrading their Core Banking System (CBS) and is now preparing to cut over to a system that is not only better in terms of capacity but will also provide customers with improved services across all channels. The project christened the Purple Ark Project after the biblical ark in the time of Noah, is well-timed as it comes with the promise of new innovations and world-class standard service.  

With the successful rollout of the ‘All In The Apps’ campaign on an old CBS, one cannot help but wonder what the new Core Banking System will position Steward Bank to achieve as the New Year unfolds. Conducting business during the pandemic has not been easy, however, the promise of innovations on the banking landscape is all but tangible, and makes for exciting times ahead.