STAFF WRITER
Bank Windhoek has launched its WhatsApp Banking channel, a digital service they said is designed to make everyday banking simpler, more accessible and convenient.
The channel was launched yesterday in Windhoek.
They became the first in Namibia to introduce WhatsApp Banking, building on a track record of digital innovation that includes the country’s first cell phone banking launch in 2006.
Bank Windhoek managing director James Chapman said the launch is a milestone for the financial institution and for the continued evolution of banking and digital payments in Namibia.
“Digital transformation is about making banking simpler and more accessible. By leveraging WhatsApp, we are bringing banking into the daily conversations of our customers and placing it where they already communicate and connect,” Chapman said.
Chapman said the institution’s WhatsApp Banking responds to this shift by enabling customers to bank through a channel many already use daily, making
support more immediate and mobile.
He said the launch forms part of the bank’s strategy to build digital ecosystems centred on convenience and accessibility, reducing reliance on physical proximity to branches and helping address distance-related barriers for customers across the
country.
“In banking, trust is our currency, and we have designed this channel with that responsibility at its core,” Chapman said.
Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus, in a speech delivered on her behalf by executive director Linda Aipinge-Nakale said the launch reflects the growing convergence of banking. She said the launch also reflects a growing communication and digital technology, which is reshaping how people access services and manage their finances.
Aipinge-Nakale said digital progress must be pursued responsibly, noting that as banking and communication converge, cybersecurity, data protection and digital trust become even more important. “Greater convenience must never come at the expense of safety,” she said. Aipinge-Nakale said that the government and regulators will continue working with industry to support innovation while safeguarding consumers and the integrity of the digital ecosystem.
She congratulated the bank’s board, management and project teams on the launch.
In a statement, Bank Windhoek urged customers to remain vigilant and never share sensitive information such as PINs or one-time passwords with anyone, including people claiming to represent the bank.
Through WhatsApp Banking, customers can securely interact with the Bank Windhoek via a familiar messaging interface after saving the number, +264 81 140 2950.
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