The touch screen ATM offers easy banking and cash withdrawals in areas where people struggle to find a bank.
"Access to banking, especially in rural areas, has always been a problem with people often travelling hours to make simple banking transactions," says Seth Maanda, head of sales and marketing at FNB Transact. "However, the new Slimline ATM is designed specifically with South Africans in mind, especially those who aren't close to a branch. Most of their everyday banking can be done at their local spaza shop or store."
The Slimline ATM allows branchless banking as customers can purchase prepaid airtime, electricity and Lotto, eWallet and cardless services. They can also check their balances and make transfers and payments. The Slimline operates in the same way as an FNB Mini ATM when drawing cash; a slip is issued and then cashed at the retailer's till.
A survey by Finscope Consumer Study 2012 shows that people in rural and lower income groups spend nearly 100% more time, 47 minutes opposed to 23 minutes, accessing banking such as an ATM.
"The new device is suitable for everyday banking and transactions, giving customers far more banking options and saving them time and money travelling long distances to a conventional ATM or branch," says Maanda.
The new machines are geared towards preventing fraud and have a large touch screen with camera and card reader for CHIP and PIN-enabled cards.
"Safety while making transactions is one of the most important aspects of an ATM," says Maanda. "The camera and card reader ensures that the customers' details are protected."
The Slimlines are placed in spaza shops and small businesses around the country and are a lifeline for customers that need access to banking in remote and rural areas of South Africa.
The lions share, almost a quarter of these devices, have been deployed in Limpopo (207), followed by Eastern Cape (138), KwaZulu-Natal (129) and North West (118) with the remainder in the other provinces.
FNB is rolling out its new ATMs across its African operators in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland and Tanzania.
