The management of Ecobank Nigeria Limited says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agency banking scheme continues to drive entrepreneurship, providing employment opportunities and supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
These, according to Olanike Kolawole, the bank’s Head, Agency Banking, are some of the many inherent rewards and benefits of being an agency banking partner.
Kolawole, who spoke during presentation of gifts to the bank’s Xpress Point agents across the six geo-political zones of the country for their increased transactions on the bank’s platforms, noted that apart from helping to drive Ecobank’s financial inclusion strategy in Nigeria, the agents were being empowered to create wealth and enjoy financial freedom.
She disclosed that the bank currently parades 30,000 agent locations, also known as Xpress Point agents, expressing satisfaction the agents, who she said “are playing a crucial role in helping us reach out to the unbanked and under-banked in the society. That is why we have designed a reward system for them.”
“They are bringing more people to the banking space through their services. They carry out financial transactions on our behalf and earn commission on every transaction processed. The customer experience is very good as customers can do simple deposit, payment, and transfers in their own neighbourhood rather than travel for hours to a bank branch. The Xpress Point is also a channel that is being used for the deployment of national social intervention programmes of the government,” she said.
Kolawole listed the services offered by the Xpress point agents as: cash in, cash out, fund transfer, bills payment, airtime recharge, remittances and account opening, among others.
She added that the services are available for MSMEs, sole proprietors, partnerships, co-operative societies, microfinance banks, companies with large distribution network – like petrol stations, FMCGs, telecommunication companies, super agents, aggregators and unregistered businesses such as petty traders, hair salons and others.
She enjoined the youths and owners of small businesses (both men and women) to use this initiative to expand their revenue streams while offering this value-added service to customers.
“Are you looking for a business opportunity? Do you have a business and need an easy way to earn extra income? Xpress Point is the way. Become an Ecobank Xpress Point Agent today and enjoy financial liberty. Xpress Points are Ecobank approved agent locations that bring easy banking services closer to your neighborhood. Ecobank Xpress Point Agents offers simple banking services to solve your financial needs without you having to visit the bank,” she stressed.
