Self-service banking: MMBL partners with VRG to facilitate non-smartphone customers

KARACHI: Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has signed an agreement with Virtual Remittance Gateway (VRG), a veteran mobile financial services platform for banking customers, and Pakistan’s only commercial licensed Third-Party Service Provider (TPSP).

Under this partnership, MMBL’s non-smartphone users will be able to use their bank accounts via Unstructured Suppleme-ntary Service Data (USSD) channels. The USSD is a widely accepted channel by customers for buying mobile bundles and checking prepaid balance amounts.

VRG, through its technical expertise, has embarked on enabling MMBL’s USSD channels, allowing MMBLs customers to use banking services 24/7 on their phones, which do not have 3G, 4G, WiFi, or Internet connections.

With the help of USSD Channels, MMBL’s non-smartphone users will be able to check their bank balance, bank statement, transfer funds, pay utility bills, and recharge their mobile phone accounts without data or internet connection. The initiative will initially be piloted for a month’s period, followed by a commercial launch in January 2022.

Sharing his thoughts about the partnership, Ghazanfar Azzam, President & CEO MMBL said that MMBL is committed to expanding financial services to a wider pool of customers by targeting the underserved segments of the society. “With VRG’s partnership, MMBL plans to revolutionize Pakistan’s banking sector by bridging the financial gap and eradicating all barriers to access digital financial services,” he added.

Chief Finance & Digital Officer MMBL, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr has said MMBL is dedicated to uplift the unbanked and underserved segments, particularly SMEs and women-led businesses, by providing them access to financial services through its expansive digital financial ecosystem.

Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Salman Ali, CEO VRG said that customer centricity is at the heart of banking and this collaboration is a significant step towards digital banking making its impact bigger on customer experience across business segments. “Providing Unified USSD service to access banking will not only enhance the customer experience but also augment MMBL’s digital footprint to reach customers who were previously out of the digital banking net,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021