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Turkey's Garanti Bank sees future of banking defined by mobility [Jerusalem Post (Israel)](Jerusalem Post (Israel) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The banking industry has embraced mobility in a big way in many foreign markets, including SOUTH, where Garanti Bank pays for its customers to get mobile Internet access, and uses social media to attract and retain customers. In Garanti, everyone believes mobile is the future, Deniz Guven, head of digital channels at Garanti Bank was quoted as saying in an article at Banking Technology. This means a complete culture change from how banks have traditionally engaged customers. People wake up in the morning, they check Facebook while they get dressed, check the weather and read emails over breakfast. The customer may Skype his girlfriend at work, upload a picture of his cat on Instagram at lunch time and order dinner via mobile on the way home. If we don't think like this, how can we catch our customers, Guven poses. As previously reported by FierceMobileIT, it is exactly that type of thinking that netted Garanti Bank the distinction of being the top bank in Europe when it comes to mobile banking, according to Forrester Research. Driving much of this outlook are simple demographic realities: 94 percent of the Turkish population is estimated to have a Facebook account, and 50 percent is under age 29. Still, Turkey is estimated to have approximately 29 million people that are not currently with one of the 49 national banks, the article explains. There is fierce competition to get them as customers, and mobile technology is seen as a key enabler in a country where many people live in remote, less economically developed areas. The main barrier there is smartphone adoption, Guven says. But we try to be responsive, so even if you are using an old Nokia phone, you can use internet connection to use mobile banking. We understand that the cost is sensitive, so we pay. Even non-customers can use the bank's ATM machines to make cash withdrawals using a mobile phone. The obvious hope is that they may become customers. You can come to our ATM and make a payment for bills. You can deposit money to someone. You can pay your rent. It's a great way to reach the unbanked, Guven explains. Tomorrow, you never know, they might start using our services. It's a great channel to catch them. All rights reserved (c) 2014 The Jerusalem Post Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |