Absa Banking’s Agenda Spreads Its Wings Through WhatsApp Banking

Absa Bank Kenya, a subsidiary of South Africa’s Absa Group, recently launched a WhatsApp banking solution called “Abby” to assist users in making basic transactions. According to the Bank, customers can use the service for bill payments, balance enquiry, inter-account transfers, as well as transfers between bank accounts and M-Pesa/Airtel money.

This move comes at a time when the digital landscape is constantly changing, Absa hope to anchor their place in the landscape before it is too late. The introduction of the WhatsApp banking is in line with Absa’s commitment to digitise its services.

Earlier this year, it revealed plans to commit KSh1.6bn ($14.6m) to its digitisation process, and this is a step in that direction. While the Bank claims that this product is the first of its kind in Kenya, the Housing Finance Bank of Kenya launched a similar service in 2019.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya, Jeremy Awori, said, “This is a really exciting moment for us at Absa, not just because this solution is first-in-market, but more so because it will significantly transform the way our customers interact with us.