Following the recent opening of Nedbank’s new branch at the Umlazi Mega City Shopping Centre, the community of Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal can now look forward to a world-class banking experience, offering them not only professional money advice, service and solutions, but also access to opportunities to grow their businesses.
Community members can now get quick and easy access to all the Nedbank products and services they need, right on their doorstep. And to take their ventures to the next level, community groups, investment clubs and businesses can use free meeting zones inside the branch. They can book time slots to meet with clients or partners to discuss business matters, improve their community savings schemes, develop strategies, present proposals and hopefully even close business deals.
Nedbank has already hosted its first financial learning experience for the community through a workshop that aims to equip those with side hustles with the necessary skills to take their business to the next level. Among many more engagements to come, including webinars and online short courses, these workshops will focus on various topics relevant to the needs of the community, all anchored on good money management.
The new Umlazi branch is the second of its kind in South Africa, after Nedbank’s Khayelitsha branch in the Western Cape. These two branches are the result of months of planning and upgrades aimed at amplifying the impact of community branches.
Nedbank is delivering a new, reimagined banking experience, including full-service in-person banking services provided by skilled employees. Also, clients can call the Nedbank Contact Centre, available all year round, free of charge or use our many self-help options for those who prefer to get their banking done quickly and efficiently.
‘The Nedbank community branch concept is the result of our commitment to meeting the changing banking needs and expectations of all South Africans in a world that has been forever changed by Covid-19,’ says Werner Terblanche, Managing Executive for Nedbank Channels. ‘The old concept of a banking branch simply doesn’t work anymore, which is why Nedbank has worked to completely change our clients’ banking experience, so that when they visit our branches, they have the access, choice and service options to fully customise their banking to match their individual needs.’
The new Umlazi branch provides a personalised and flexible banking experience by combining digital service channels with friendly and knowledgeable employees to offer support at every step. Clients can access all Nedbank products and services, including the full range of transactional bank accounts such as Nedbank Pay-as-you-use, Nedbank4Me, the Nedbank Unlocked.Me Account and any of our Savvy accounts. Clients can also use our digital channels or speak to a consultant in person if they want to apply for a credit card, home loan, personal loan, or debt consolidation loan, or open a Nedbank Stokvel Account or a savings or investment account.
Clients don’t have to wait in long queues – they can easily arrange a meeting with a consultant and pick up their cards and other documents from secure lockers (even after hours). Our various in-branch digital channels enable clients to make deposits and withdrawals, do account queries, open, or apply for Nedbank accounts, and more.
‘Being financial experts who do good, we recognise that each community has its own unique challenges as well as opportunities, and as a corporate entity in South Africa, we need to be vested in the success and growth of the communities we serve,’ Terblanche says. ’Our vision as a bank is to use our in‑depth knowledge, networks and tools to empower people to make the best financial decisions in a seamless way, as well as be a hub where people in local communities can come together to work together for shared good and growth.’
