FNB app goes for gold

This year, South Africa’s FNB Banking App has been nominated for the World Summit Award and will compete for its place among the world’s best mobile content.

Being one of the apps that made it through the national pre-selection process, the FNB Banking App is nominated as the best m-Content example in m-Business & Commerce and competes with global counterparts for the award.

The FNB Banking App launched on Apple, BlackBerry and Android devices in July 2011, as the only retail banking App in South Africa and according to FNB has proved to be popular. There are over 250 000 active clients using the Banking App, with new users month-on-month of about 40 000. At the MTN App of the year awards held in August 2012, the FNB Banking App won in the following categories: Best iOS (Apple) App, Best BlackBerry App, Best Android App and the best Overall App.

On being nominated for the World Summit Award, Farren Roper, Head of FNB Connect ISP and Business Operations, said, “We are proud to be nominated for such an esteemed global award. It emphasises the importance of bridging the digital divide to offer convenient, simple banking to South African consumers”. 

Roper continues, “With the introduction of the FNB Banking App, the retail bank App landscape in South Africa has changed. The FNB App created demand for Apps in Banking with most of our competitors having launched their own versions of an App, confirming the need for mobile App technology in the banking industry. The key to future success is not to be complacent and to continue to deliver firsts on the App platform which add value to our clients”.

International panel decides

Later this month, an international panel of renowned IT experts and industry leaders will evaluate the nominated product. The judges come from all continents and have backgrounds in the creative industries, telecommunication, advertising, journalism and research, as well as in teaching. The panel also include representatives of international organisations in the ICT-for-development field.

The apps will be judged on the value of the content as well as the product’s design and technical realisation. Each nominee’s contribution will also be evaluated on its effectiveness to bridging the digital divide.

“WSA-mobile’s goal is to find out what works in different markets and in different parts of the world and what really makes a difference for the people in remote villages and global megacities. We want to show to decision makers what can be done to foster mobile’s potential to create a true information society”, says Peter A. Bruck, Chairman of the WSA Board.

The WSA-mobile provides South Africa’s FNB a chance to raise global awareness for the Banking App on the international stage. Those projects that will come out on top of the judge’s decision will be invited to the WSA-mobile Winner’s Events taking place from 3-5 February 2013 in Abu Dhabi.

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