adminConrad Mwanawashe : Business Reporter
THE alignment of MBCA Bank to Nedbank group’s systems to facilitate worldwide transactions for its clients is still work in progress, managing director Dr Charity Jinya has said. MBCA is a wholly owned subsidiary of MBCA Holdings Limited whose shareholders (directly or indirectly) include Nedbank Bank limited (South Africa), Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited, Mediobanca Banca de Credito Finanziaio (Italy) and the MBCA Employee Share Trust.Dr Jinya told The Herald Business the alignment may not happen in the short to medium term because the focus currently is to network the local institution with its group companies in the region.
She said MBCA currently falls within the rest of Africa cluster but plans are underway to align with the larger group. While work is underway to align with the group’s propositions, the local unit is focusing on making its branches similar to those at Nedbank so that clients feel they belong to the same bank.
“However, if you look at our branches and you walk into a Nedbank branch you will feel that you are at Nedbank. So it is a process that we are working on to align ourselves to the propositions that the group has,” she said.
Aligning with the group’s propositions is part of a bigger strategy to take advantage of the opportunities presented by a more dynamic business environment.
Already two of MBCA’s 10 branches are carrying the “Nedbank branch of future concept”. The branch of the future concept stems from the bank’s client-centred approach to deliver distinctive experience across channels.
“We will continue to enhance our branches to include other innovative state of the art digital platforms so that our clients can enjoy both technology and that personal touch that we yearn for as human beings,” said Dr Jinya.
MBCA Bank was established in July 2004 after changing from Zimbabwe’s oldest merchant bank, Merchant Bank of Central Africa Limited.
MBCA Bank continues to make substantial investments as it plans to expand its service delivery channels because it has a positive outlook on the future of Zimbabwe.
The bank officially opened its latest branch in Gweru as part of a wider strategy to grow its presence in Zimbabwe. Another branch will be opened in Borrowdale before the end of the year.
The Gweru branch brings to 10 the total number of branches countrywide.
The branches come with state of the art digital platforms designed to complement the physical branch network.
“As MBCA, we have a positive outlook on the future of this country and we plan to continue expanding our service delivery channels so that our clients can conveniently reach us,” said Dr Jinya while officially opening the Gweru branch last week.
“The delivery channels will include increasing the number of branches as demonstrated by the opening of this Gweru branch we well as enhancing our digital platforms such as mobile banking,” she said.
The bank expects to launch the VISA/Mastercard before the end of the year.
Online Reporter