News

Reaching unbanked populations to be highlighted at 'ATMs in Africa 2' conference

April 25, 2005

BROOKINGS, SD and CAPE TOWN, South Africa - South Africa's Standard Bank and Absa Bank will present a joint keynote session at the ATM Industry Association's conference in Cape Town Feb. 24-25. According to a news release, the session will cover how banks can use electronic channels like ATMs to reach Africa's unbanked population.

At the conference,"ATMs in Africa 2," Standard Bank director of convenience marketing Lincoln Mali and Absa Bank's general manager of the self-service channel, Pravesh Mahadeo, will share their visions for servicing the African unbanked population via retail and electronic banking.

In South Africa, estimates show that more than half of the adult population is unbanked. A majority of that group is illiterate and living in remote areas, the release noted.

During the conference, co-founder and Mosaic Software new business director Willem van Biljon will discuss prospects for stored-value cards for Africa. Sithembiso Sibiya, Africa manager for First National Bank, which is rolling out portable bank branches and mini-ATMs in unbanked areas, will show how ATMs are reaching out to rural communities in South Africa.

South Africa's network switch, Bankserv will outline its model of interbank payment services while the deputy general manager of First Bank of Nigeria, Taiwo Otiti, will explain the establishment of InterSwitch, Nigeria's homegrown switch and ATM network. Steve Kark, founder and managing director of Africa's pioneer ISO, ATM Solutions, will outline cost-efficient deployment strategies for independent African ATMs.

For more information, contact Mike Lee at 27-21-9750752, mike@atmia.com, or Amanda Hardy at 44-0-207-6035467, amanda@atmiaconferences.com.