Wind power wows bank

The first wind-powered bank branch opened in the Western Cape town of DuNoon on Saturday 5 February 2011, powered by wind turbines installed by Eveready Kestrel that will generate all the electrical power that the branch will need to operate.

The Nedbank branch will derive its energy from sustainable energy source instead of the national grid, which will only act as back-up energy source on the rare occasions when there is no wind energy to power the branch.

The opening of the branch forms another example of the bank's commitment to ensure that all South Africans have access to banking. The launch also ensures that it honours its promise to make financial services accessible, convenient, affordable and sustainable.

According to Dave Schwegmann, managing executive of the bank's branch network, the lack of access to traditional banking services can restrain development, so the DuNoon branch was opened to support the residents, business community and residents from surrounding areas to increase commercial growth and create more jobs.

The bank has also erected a billboard that combines solar panels with a wind turbine to provide electricity to the youth and family development centre in Athlone.