Letshego launches digital platform

This was said by chief executive officer Ester Kali when she launched the bank's new app, called 'LetsGo Digtal Mall' at the B1 mall in Katutura on Thursday.“This provides additional opportunities to clients to engage us 24/7, with the ultimate aim being that personal branch visits become a rare occurrence.”Kali said Covid-19 reminded everyone that life is fragile and the bank made the health and safety of its staff members and clients a top priority.“We have swiftly digitalised and robotised processes and made automation our adopted standard as this has ensured efficiency and agility while capitalising our employees with tools to maintain and improve customers' interests.“We have implemented cohort working arrangements to maintain health and safety protocols, while maintaining worker and customer satisfaction and remaining updated on regulations,” she said.Kali said the bank has doubled customer transactions over the past few years, with a notable uptake in digital transactions. “We are a world-class retail financial services provider that empowers the underserved customer segment through simple, easy, clear, affordable and inclusive solutions.“This is made possible through our 16 customer-service points across Namibia, with six full deposit-taking branches,” she said. Kali sad as a pan-African financial institution, the bank is able to leverage on other Letshego subsidiaries across the continent to give it an advantage over its competitors.“We recognise our market leadership position in the microlender space, and attribute this to our experience combined with the lowest cost and the fastest boarding times in the industry as our competitive advantage,” she said.Addressing the function online from Botswana, Letshego Group chief executive officer Andrew Okai said the group continues to invest in Namibia to deliver greater sustainable value to customers, investors, partners and shareholders.“LetsGo Digital Mall is an integral catalyst in Letshego's digital journey, and it empowers us to achieve the ambition to be a digital first world-class retail financial services organisation.”He said the bank is committed to improving lives, and the digital mall helps the bank find more ways to improve service delivery.“The digital mall is where clients will access all services, including housing loans Letshego launched recently with the help of the International Finance Corporation,” Okai said. At least 4 000 Namibians are expected to benefit from the agreement between the two institutions. The chief executive officer of the Bankers Association of Namibia, Brian Katjaerua, said Letshego was building on the Namibian House by realising the digital economy is a fundamental building block for the year of reimaging.He said as more start-ups have been established in the country, especially in Windhoek, new payment methods are needed.Katjaerua said the top priority of the association is for banks to enable customers to access services as cheaply as possible through branchless banks.The event was also attended by Khomas regional governor Laura McLeod Katjirua, Asnath Zamue, the secretary general of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union, and a number of police and correctional services officers. Letshego Financial Services Namibia (Letshego Namibia) opened its doors as Edu Loan Namibia, providing consumer and microlending services. In August 2008, Letshego Holdings Limited (LHL), a Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed entity, acquired 100% of the company, after which the company rebranded to Letshego Financial Services Namibia. LHL is the largest indigenous BSE-quoted company with a current market capitalisation in excess of 5 billion pula (N$7,5 billion), which places it among the top 40 sub-Saharan African companies, excluding South Africa. Email: matthew@namibian.com.na