With the launch of Standard Bank\u2019s smartphone app and Nedbank\u2019s mobile banking app going into beta among employees, Absa is the last of the big four banks to sit without a smartphone app.<\/p>\n
First National Bank (FNB) was first to market with an app in South Africa when it launched about a year ago (20 July 2011), and claims<\/a> that the application has over 200,000 transacting users who have made over two million transactions.<\/p>\n Other banks have been slow to respond, with only Standard Bank launching an app available to the public.<\/p>\n Absa\u2019s head of digital banking, Christo Vrey, previously told BusinessTech that its app was delayed due to problems with its back-end system, pushing back its originally intended launch of Q4 2011 to sometime in 2012.<\/p>\n Even in light of the launch of Standard Bank\u2019s app and the announcement Nedbank\u2019s app entering beta, Absa didn\u2019t divulge more detail when asked for an update about their app plans.<\/p>\n The bank reiterated that it created the technical framework in its Absa Online platform that will provide a services layer for other channels, including apps. The new Absa Online platform recently entered public beta and is available to all 1.25 million of Absa\u2019s online banking customers, the bank said.<\/p>\n Absa also said that the interface for Absa Online has been optimised for use on Apple and Samsung tablet devices. \u201cThis tablet-optimised Absa Online thus encompasses a depth of functionality not currently available in any of the local tablet and smartphone banking apps,\u201d Absa said.<\/p>\n Though Absa isn\u2019t committing to platforms and launch dates, it is worth pointing out that Nedbank\u2019s app is still in closed beta, meaning the race for second last to launch is still on.<\/p>\n Standard Bank app cruising to 15k downloads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Nedbank App closer to launch<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Absa attracts 120,000 mobile customers each month<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Capitec banking app: \u201cthe jury is still out\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRelated articles<\/h3>\n