Standard Chartered Introduces Co-Shared Space With ArtCaffe

Standard Chartered Bank has today launched its first co-shared space with ArtCaffe.

Housed at Britam Centre, Upper Hill, the co-shared space will provide a 24/7 service that includes Mobile Express Banking, state-of-the-art ATMs, phone banking services, electronic cheque and cash deposit all in a luxurious ambience.

Speaking during the launch, Standard Chartered Bank CEO, Kariuki Ngari, said “As more branch traffic shifts to digital, banking providers have a massive opportunity to reinvent the fundamental role of the brick-and-mortar channel. By innovatively leveraging technology solutions, Standard Chartered’s Sales & Service Centre make everyday banking products and services available down your street. The Centres are strategically located in the proximity of where our customers predominantly live and work, thus making us more accessible and visible to our customers.”

The centre will be managed by Universal Banker. Universal Banker is a new model where bank staff are upskilled on all facets of banking and can therefore attend to a cross-section of client needs. 50 staff have undergone and graduated from the Universal banking model.

The services in these centres will include:

Sales & Advisory Services in a relaxed ambience
Self-Service support – deposit cheques, cash and withdraw cash at the ATM machines
Digital Self-Service support through iPads
A trained bank representative to handle a cross-section of banking requests

The Sales & Service Centres will be set up in proximity to customers’ homes and offices thus enhancing Standard Chartered’s reach and physical presence as part of its distribution optimisation strategy.

According to Standard Chartered Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking Edith Chumba, the Bank’s model has always been relationship-focused, with the aim of providing a whole gamut of services to customers and not stopping at one. “In an effort to enrich the relationship that the Bank shares with its customers, the new distribution channel combines the Bank’s world-class digital banking capabilities with excellent face to face service to make banking fast, friendly and accessible to Customers. We promise to give you more than just cash in a comfortable and luxurious environment,” Edith adds.

Sagi Vaknin, CEO of the Artcaffé Group, said “At Artcaffé, we are always looking for innovative, new and relevant ways to reach our customers, and to create beautiful and welcoming spaces and inspiring experiences. We’re very excited to partner with SCB at our newest and biggest branch at Britam Tower, where customers can now enjoy delicious Artcaffé meals and drinks while seeking financial services. Our Britam branch is also a new meeting place and networking hub Upper Hill, where our customers will be able to host corporate events of up to 500 people. This new branch is a demonstration of our agility and diversification in a recently tough climate, and is a fantastic new addition to the growing Artcaffé family and series.”

Standard Chartered will also roll out other sales and service centres at The Junction, Sarit Centre, Village Market, Kitengela and a co-shared space with ArtCaffé in Nanyuki.

This is in line with the bank’s strategy to leverage technology to make services more efficient and readily accessible through alternative channels away from the traditional brick and mortar. In the last two years, the bank has recorded a 29 per cent decline in footfall within its branches as the majority of clients move to alternate channels.