Caritas Microfinance bank has been recognized for its use of technology in delivering services to its customers. The bank scooped two awards – the Best microfinance Bank in the Use of Digital Solutions to Enhance Customer Experience and Best Microfinance institution in e-services in Kenya during the 2nd Digital Inclusion Awards held last month.
The recognition comes barely six months after the micro lender was feted as the best microfinance Bank in Kenya during the Think Business Awards ceremony.
Caritas, whose key shareholders are various institutions in the Catholic Church, was granted a nationwide license by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in June 2015 becoming the twelfth microfinance bank in the country.
Currently, about 80% of customer transactions are done on mobile banking and other alternative business channels such as agency and Internet banking.
“These awards are an affirmation of our concerted efforts to ensure we continuously improve the customer journey whenever they interact with us at any of our outlets,” said Mr. George Maina, Caritas CEO.
The awards come at a time when technology and banking are converging to facilitate provision of ever-convenient services to consumers.
“Caritas continues to leverage on this convergence hence contributing towards the financial inclusion agenda and promoting economic growth in Kenya in line with the country’s economic blue print, Vision
2030,” said Mr. Maina.
The bank has also embarked on agency banking to increase its footprint. Currently, 16 agents have already received licensing from CBK. By the end of the year, the bank plans to recruit 50 agents. The bank has also partnered with the Cooperative Bank of Kenya for ATM and point-of-sale (POS) services, enabling its customers to have nation-wide access to their accounts.
Customers can make withdrawals at all Visa branded ATMs and purchase goods and services at all Visa branded outlets. As per its Strategic Plan, Caritas envisions to have 12 branches and 200 agency outlets by the year 2020. Currently, the bank has 5 branches in Nairobi and Thika, with plans to open one more branch in Kiambu by the end of the year.
