BancABC introduces new Visa card to reduce cash insecurity

Dar es Salaam. BancABC, which is part of Atlas Mara, has introduced a Visa Cash card in the endeavour to help in building of a cashless society.

The card is a reloadable pre-paid one in five different currencies of Tanzanian shillings, US dollars, the Euro, the Sterling pound and the South African rand.

Introduction of the card means that its holders will now not be required to carry a lot of cash while travelling within or outside the country.

The BancABC head of retail and business banking, Ms Joyce Malai said the card can be used by customers and non-customers who do not hold accounts with BancABC who can make various transactions with it conveniently at points of sale and through the internet.

“This card will eliminate the inconveniences and insecurity of carrying cash around and you do not need to open an account with BancABC to have one,” she told journalists at the weekend during the ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.

With the card, customers will be able to access their money anywhere at over 400 Visa-branded ATM’s in Tanzania and at 1.3 million Visa-branded ATM’s worldwide.

One can also do purchases from at over 1,000 VISA merchants in Tanzania and over 35 million VISA merchant retail outlets worldwide. 

“We have received great feedback from our customers who have children studying abroad.”   

“What makes this card even more unique is that customers can easily load through mobile money and we are proud to announce that only BancABC cards have this functionality,” she said.

According to the head of marketing of BancABC, Ms Upendo Nkini, other features of the card include, online purchase over the internet, control in spending as you only spend what you have on the card, security and comfort through CHIP and PIN hence eliminating skimming and fraudulent usage.

She insisted on the fact that it’s the only card in Tanzania that comes in five currencies. It can also be refunded and replaced once lost or stolen.

“The cards will be available at our Saba Saba booth at KimataifaHall or you can send the word VISA followed by your district to 15774, or visit any of our branches at Uhuru heights, Kariakoo, Quality Centre and Arusha," she said.

Atlas Mara acquired BancABC in June 2014 growing its foot prints in Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Mozambique. It then acquired two banks in Rwanda (BRDcommercial and BPR) which are have merged and are currently operating under BPR part of Atlas Mara.