EVOLUTION OF THE BANKING SECTOR

               
The 21st century has brought about a catholic convergence of computing, communications, information and knowledge. People no longer have to walk to airports to book tickets, talking to someone miles away has never been a problem as folks can now send instant messages to their friends and families around the world. Computer applications such as Skype have made it possible for people to make video calls. All these therefore have made it even easier for people to connect with their loved ones in diaspora and maintain the relationship between them despite the distance.

This flare-up of technology has consequently transformed the banking industry from paper and branch banking to digitized and schmoozed financial transactions. Banks all over the world are however still struggling to find a high-tech solution to the challenges brought about by the hastily changing environment. Technology keeps growing and for this reason, the banking industry will forever be affected by it (technology). Banks that will embrace this and invest highly in information technology will survive in the highly competitive global market. This  key to survival is offering customer services determined by how expedient, innovative and how personalized the products and services offered are which will then enhance customer loyalty.

Introduction of ATMs was a major breakthrough for the banking industry. It made it possible for ‘anytime banking’ as ATMs offer nonstop cash withdrawals, deposits and even balance inquiry 24 hours a day. Long hours queues at the branches seized to be a problem to both the customer and the bank. Still, this wasn’t enough. Biometrics replaced the long processes of facial recognition and signature check. All one has to do is place their finger on the biometric machine for the computer to recognize them and link the fingerprint to their account. It was not long ago when the industry introduced mobile banking where not only could the customers check their balances on phone but also deposit and withdraw cash at the nearest remote terminals (agents) connected to the bank. Despite all these efforts to catch up with the technology race, the customers still feel that the industry could do better. This therefore gives the industry a challenge to keep evolving and come up with many more innovations for customer satisfaction.

In addition, banks have grabbed with enthusiasm the opportunity of using the social networks for advertising of their products as a way of marketing them. Using new trends in advertising like the pop up advertising where adverts pop up on a person’s mobile screen when they’re online, product recommendation, chats ( Facebook messenger, WhatsApp and WeChat) Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin, bankers have been in a position to reach many of their customers through personal touch which enhances their relationship.
Banks also use social media as a research platform. Tracking down their comments posted on their Facebook pages and twitter accounts, they get to identify their clients’ grievances and acclaims and there henceforth come up with ideas on how to make their products more efficient and competent in relation to the customers feedback posted on these social sites.

One of the leading banks in Kenya recently launched their new mobile banking application termed ‘Eazzy Banking’. Being broadly known for its wings to fly scholarship for the bright but less fortunate students in secondary schools, Equity bank is way ahead of all the other banks in the country in this race of digitization. The application that is to be championed by Wings To Fly scholars who graduated to the university has the following simple but effective features that are believed to have the aptitude to ease all the banking processes that take place in various branches of the bank.
EazzyPay
EazzyChama
EazzyLoan
EzzyNet
EazzyBiz
EazzyAPI

With EazzyPay a customer can pay for bills, goods and services straight from their phone using the app. Some of the benefits that come along with using this feature are that a customer saves money, no money transfer charges incurred as one pay direct from their account, there’s a cash back option where one can withdraw cash as they pay for goods and services at merchants who display Cashback sign and finally it works with any network.

EazzyChama allows individuals of group accounts to manage their group activities including record keeping and banking transactions while at the same time maintain transparency among all members. This feature saves the group members time to travel to the nearest branch as they can monitor group transactions like, money transfer and also track personal transactions like monthly distribution.

EazzyLoan feature allow customers to apply for loans of up to Kshs. 3million. With this feature, there is no filling of forms and no need for guarantors. In addition, one can track his or her loan balance and make payments using the app.

EazzyNet enhances a customer’s online banking experience. It makes it easy to navigate across the platform where one can transfer cash to accounts within Equity Bank and other banks as well as international funds transfer via SWIFT. One can view and print account statements, ask for full statements, banker’s cheque and stop cheques. On top of all these, one can still pay for bills like KPLC, DSTV and water. Most importantly no annual charges on EazzyNet.

EazzyBiz is a comprehensive cash and liquidity management solution that caters for cash management requirements of corporate and SME clients. It incorporates payments, collections and receivable, liquidity management and Host-to-Host modules. It gives clients a global view of their cash flow and balances across multiple currencies and locations.

Finally, EazzyAPI allow developers, institutions and businesses to weigh the full capabilities of digital banking. With APIs, there’s direct integration to a business’ system or customers with banking grade security at the core of such implementations. Some of these APIs include funds transfer (within and outside Equity Bank), airtime top up for any Telco at a discount, payment for goods and services and  also instant opening of Equity Bank account.

While African banks are still struggling to catch up with technology, banks in the first world nations are far ahead. Some of the already implemented banking technologies include:

In-car apps
Caixa Bank in Spain created the world’s first mobile banking app that can be used in the car while driving using voice control functionality. Using this application, drivers can locate nearby ATMs and branches, they can check their account balances as well as transferring cash.

Google glass
Spain’s Ciaxa banks has developed a Google Glass application which works by superimposing directions to the nearest branch on the glasses and giving details like the distance to the nearest branch. This is accessed through the voice recognition system.

Augmented reality
Westpac bank in Australia recently announced the launch of augmented reality device for smartphone devices. The app provides 3D visualization of account balances, transaction history and shows the nearest branches of the bank and their respective distances.

Digital Cheques
The United States has widely embraced the smartphone cheque imaging.  This allows customers to make cheque payment via the mobile application. This is done by the customer taking a photo of the cheque using his or her smartphone and pays it directly into their bank account avoiding the need to visit the bank.

In conclusion, the world is moving so fast in terms of technology. So much advancement has been made from the late 20th century up to now. For this reason, only the few who’ll  assent change and embrace it with positivity will survive, banking industry being one of the major sectors affected by technology advancement.

CHANGE

There are times in life when we wonder why we even exist. It’s a question that cannot be easily answered without critical thinking and reasoning of what exactly does one want to do with his or her life. In most cases we ask ourselves, what do I want to achieve in life? 

Still not so many could answer that. Unlike in the US where kids’ talents are nurtured while still at a tender age, what all stereotypical Kenyan parents want to see is a kid who gets good grades in school.’ You have to work hard, perform well so that you can join high school.’ Is what they utter and when in high school: ‘OH MY GOD, you got a C+? Are you serious? KCSE is in six months’ time. You have to pull up your socks if you really want to join college.’ Is what follows.
It’s at this moment that one starts to feel irritated. ‘Why didn’t he even comment on the music certificates that I got after representing my school up to the national levels? All he wants to see is good grades? Oh crap!’ The statement that then follows is that kids nowadays are disrespectful and that they do not know what they (the kids) want in life. So if my parent wants me to perfect an area that we all know I am never going to be good at and ignores that one thing that I am so perfect at, what should I do with my life? How will I decide on the things that I want to pursue in my life if I am at the receiving end in such situation.

It takes time, brains, energy and that uncontrollable urge to communicate to that inner part of you that’s going to help you recognize something, feel it, experience it, own it and most importantly take the enormous decision to believe in it before you conclude that this is exactly what brought me to this world. This is what I want to do. It is the mission that I was given by God and I have to accomplish it. Regrettably not so many people are capable of this.

Many say am destined to achieve great things when they can’t even tell what those great things are. I compare them to a flag, always following the wind’s direction.

I recall an instance during first years’ orientation; barely a week after joining university when one of our lecturers asked why we chose that specific course out of the so many courses offered by the university and why didn’t we opt for other universities . He got many responses some of which I can’t remember considering the fact that we were almost 100 in number. Well some of these replies were extremely hilarious. ‘I chose the course because I have an elder sister who pursued the same course’ was one of the replies he got. Some said they were not sure why while some said people who work in that industry earn lots of money and that’s what they wanted after school; get a good job and earn lots of cash. It’s true we are destined for greater things but my concern is what these great things are if a university student cannot answer such a simple and straight to the point query. We create our own destiny, it all depends on the path that one choses.

Finally yet importantly, we keep singing the song “change”:  academically, politically, financially and even socially but when the same change comes, still we fail to embrace it. You want to take Kenya or rather Africa to the next level, wake up from your deep sleep, throw the sheets away and don’t even bother to make that bed now. Stand out. Show the world what you are capable of achieving. Along the way you’ll meet people with the same objectives as yours, if not you’ll find those that look up to you and want be a part of you.

Change start with you and I and it’s high time we embrace it or even initiate one. If you keep looking down upon yourself and saying that that step is so huge for you to take then you’ll keep playing the victim to the daily challenges that life has to offer and we all know all the temptations and consequent repercussions that come along. Change now, make the world a better place.

Did I Lose My Qualifications???

You the light you the night
You the color of my blood
You the cure you the pain
You the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could 'hurt' so much

Do these words ring a bell in your mind
'Cause they're blowing off my mind
Well I hope you don't mind
'Cause I gotta tell u my mind

Am defined by loneliness and pain
Living a life of feign
Filled with nothing but pain
And most of all nothing to gain
A life without peace with no one to blame

Ever heard of a place unseen
A place that holds only shattered dreams
A place filled with sorrow with no end in sight
I am given this gift each and every night

This place so cold
Is what I call my soul
Place without hope or comforting dreams
A life not worth living wouldn't it seem

A life that should have never been there
A feeling that today this life has to end
One more day of sadness is much too hard to bear
Tired of living a life of heartache and despair

Do you know a person with so much pain inside
Or the feeling of loneliness when no one hears your cries
Maybe when the tears are gone and I can clearly see
The only question will be...

Did I Lose My Qualifications???

U Choose U Loose!

Oh God, do I have to do this? Although I had the guts, something was pulling me back . Suddenly, I heard the sound of the train. It was now approaching. I hit my head severally, but still I was undecided. The flashback; all those memories started overlapping in my head. I was kinda confused. I couldn't even recognize people passing by for all I could see was dancing images.

That evening in my office, he'd walked in with a briefcase in his hand, a grin on his face, winked at me as he walked majestically. You'd think he was a groom on the altar headed for his bride as she walked in. But why would he approach me as if he knew me? Why walk in and reach for me with a hug? Something was fishy.

"You won't ask me to have a seat?"

He said this putting his briefcase on my desk which at the moment was a mess. All those files scattered everywhere, a cup of tea with some little tea that had remained in it that morning. Stupid tea girl, she had forgotten her work. Some two greedy houseflies were hovering around I guess it was because of the dirty cup. I reached for the files trying to arrange them at one corner of my desk. Out of the blues, a gun was pointed at my head. My heart was in my mouth, almost fainted. I had never seen a gun before. In the movies yes. Today it was pointing my head. Far deep in my thoughts I could hear the train's horn. It was now nearing the station but I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened two days ago.

Stagnant and perplexed was my entire body, moving an inch seemed to be hell of a job. Breathing was problematic but I managed to open my mouth wide enough to scream only to be cut off with a stinging slap on my tender face.
"Am here to help"
Dilemmatic was his utterance, or was it me who didn't get him right? What kind of help had a gun pointed at you?

Our father who's at in heaven hallowed be your name your  kingdom...hardly had I started whispering this prayer as I counted my remaining seconds on earth when I had grasp on my face. His hand was huge, smelly. It covered the whole of my pretty little face as I struggled to find my breath. The next thing I could remember was seeing myself in front of this person I'd never expected to meet in my entire life. Was it real?

Perfect man that any woman would love to be with. Dark and handsome. His tall height, all killing smile and the athletic body would drive you nuts. But to me, some rotten rubbish in the world's largest garbage pit would best describe him...not even a fly could recognize his presence. Back then, I'd do anything for him. I mean anything. But not until the day that he abandoned me. The most important day of my life. Red letter day

Now he was standing in front of me in the name of he wants to help. After five years of no news from him. Had he joined the Al-shabaab for all those five years? Or had he been snatched by those whores that didn't know how to look for their own men. None of these was answerable. All he wanted was to help.

Amenably, I gave him a chance to explain himself. He took me upstairs to his living room, a better place to sit comfortably and think of all the lies that he was going to tell. Time went and what happened there after, I actually have no idea. Could have been a dream.

And now i was at the station with only two choices. Both would take me to this place that both my heart and Him wanted me to be. I had gone through a lot. The train was finally here. Only two steps needed to take this one last step in my life. I remained there hopeless, speechless, sightless and maybe motionless but all in all I still had to choose and loose.

Life on earth is sweet and enjoyable but it can also hurt like hell. We are at times left with no option. That little thing that you could despise could cost your life. We not always get what we want but at least we are given the opportunity to choose what's more important and loose the rest. Well in my story above, even choosing was a task. A difficult one indeed...good thing is that nothing lasts forever.

The paradox

She was lying there, impassively. The silence took her breathe away, she just couldn't move a finger. Everything around her seemed new before her sparkling beautiful angelic eyes that not even words could describe. Unfortunately, only you could see her. She couldn't lift those beautiful dark brown eyes. Was she dead?

Am I lost? Am I kidnapped? Who the hell brought me here? All these questions made her muddled. Actually, was she demented? Only her and God would tell us what was wrong with her but unfortunately non of them was reachable at the moment. She was in her own world. Neither you nor I would reach her. Her memory was gone, not even a single thing about yesterday and all the other days that had passed could ring in her mind.

Then time flew. Around 6 pm-three hours later-in her world,  darkness had cropped in. Total darkness. Have I become blind? That was the first thing that broke into her mind. She couldn't see East, West, North nor South. Fortunately she had regained strength. She woke up, stood on her feet and stretched out her hands as if looking for something. She couldn't find anything. Hardly had she made her first step than she heard "Bang!" This came from a distance though she couldn't tell the direction since it came out with some echo. Only if she knew...

She remained still her heart racing like a runaway train, going faster and faster. She could hear the tympanic rhythm of the captor's boots as they stomped against the hard ground. Out of curiosity she headed towards the direction of the sound. To her surprise, this place was illuminated though she couldn't see the light source. She kept on looking only to find a small mouse busy eating some rotten cassava. Were the footsteps and the loud bang all in her imaginations?

All her searching having been in vain, she decided to take her steps back to where she was. This place seemed as an exit from her world but feeling that she had left something important, she had to go back. To the dark end. No sooner had she made an about turn than she had a grasp at her waist and another one at her neck. Her breathing was difficult and she couldn't tell who this was since the person had come from behind. Lucky enough she had now regained her real conscious.

Life gives us so many reasons to smile, laugh, cry, be jealous, be confused and many other things but how do we handle all these? Do you just give up when you find yourself in a difficult situation? And if you decide to deal with it, do you consider all the challenges that you may encounter in the process? And if you succeed to move out of the situation, do you still consider going back to check on what you left undone or helping those that are in the same situation as you were. Referring to the Bible, God only helps those that help themselves. It also says that one who doesn't work should not eat.

They say life is difficult, but I say life is not difficult, it only depends with the angle that you take in dealing with the different situations you find yourself in. Life is a journey not a walking one but a running one. It is a very long journey that when you just decide to walk never will you reach your destination with your goals achieved. People will always be passing you on the way as they move on and on. You should never risk resting on the way because you'll never know whether you are at a safe place to do so. You could rest next to a forest with these strange animals that have not come across food for months, that will definitely be your destination. It's not actually a threat but those are some of the challenges that are to be encountered in this journey.

We should always keep in mind that everything that happens in this world always has a reason behind it. You working in a bank and I am working in a bar, that brings no difference at all. You'll always come to the bar to refresh yourself and I'll always be coming to the bank to save my money. No one is at the wrong place. And for this reason, every morning you always have two choices; to continue sleeping with your dreams or to wake up and chase them.

BEAUTIFUL ONES ARE YET TO BE BORN

How would you define the word beautiful in your own terms? Well the dictionary tells us that beautiful refers to something or someone attractive and possesses charm. It could also be used to refer to something excellent, clear and so much more.

Beautiful ones are yet to be born. This is a very well re known phrase in the whole world but what beauty was the person coming up with this phrase referring to. Was it the physical appearance of someone or something or was it the inner beauty that only one amongst ten people can recognise.

Most of us tend to go with the physical beauty which is also good because more and more beauties are being born. At sixteen, these chicks and dudes start moving  around; chicks swaying their so called hips side to side, in the name of "cat walk" and the dudes walking as if wearing some spring shoes of which I call it the "lame walk" with their trousers sagged as low as bellow their flat ironed behinds. Does this last long? It only takes some countable years when the ladies now start swaying their bellies. No more being called like chickens or cats on your way to town. It's not like the callers died or what, no. Some beauties have now taken over and the once called hot chick is now the cold two in one "mama" to be. And the cycle never breaks. Beautiful ones keep coming and going.

Keeping that aside, God blessed us with this beautiful country with millions of beautiful people in it. Beautiful environment with abundant resources that a human being would need to survive. "Beautiful and great leaders" that some of us always look upon. All in all my question here is, do we know how to use all these beauties? Do we really appreciate their existence?

Everything seem to be sarcastic. Living in a society full of lies is one of the things we Kenyans go through. But what do we eventually do about it? We keep entertaining this by listening to these lies. We are always blindfolded by all the sweet things they tell us. If every person in this country could be thinking the way I do then this would be the most beautiful country. We keep giving people employment and later on start complaining. Were you forced to employ him or her? Of course you were not. There's no room for complaining since you listened to them and decided that they'll be the ones. All you have to do is make things right with the available resources that we have even if you regret why you employed them. After all the choice was yours.

Why do we have to keep loosing prominent people who seemed to be the only ones that would one day make this country a better place? Why loose a hundred plus young and innocent souls who happened to be the future leaders of this country? All these happen, we mourn for a few days and life goes on. Not realizing the anguish that the affected families are in. But who is to blame? We keep doing the same mistakes.

How do you just decide to take an oath and start taking away innocent lives. This is not humanity. Beautiful people would never do this. On the contrary, when we deeply look into the matter, we'll find that they have all the reasons to take the oath. We keep killing ourselves for reasons that we together with our leaders can come together and get rid of.

Security begins with me. Something that has been spoken over and over again by almost everyone. We have done it. But what of our officers who ensures everyone's security in this nation. We can never blame them if they became reluctant in their job. This is because there's no way you can give an officer Ksh2,500 instead of Ksh12,500 that was agreed on and expect the same officer to refuse taking a bribe of Ksh50,000 to allow illegal weapons enter the country.

All these did not start happening the other day, it has been there. No matter how hard we try we always fail to get rid of such kind of things. Kenya will never be a corruption free country if Kenyans are not given what they deserve. They'll always look for means. This is the ugliness that is being passed on from generation to generation. It is upon you and i to decide on what we really want for this country in the next fifteen years. Beautiful people keep coming but they get spoiled on the way which led me to saying that beautiful ones are yet to be born. They'll always be born but they'll never survive in these harsh surroundings.

CDs for ten????

Ha~ha~ha~haaa. Jesus Christ is on his way to earth. Do not ask me whether am a prophet or am just looking for profit coz these two have no difference in pronunciation. At the age of ten, I was the tinniest in my class. Class 5. Those were eight years ago. Its not that long and for this reason I at least have an idea on how it is like to be at ten. So so so Imature.

At ten, I did not know if there were some organs called penis and vagina until I joined class six to be introduced to these two: their shapes, functions and the important roles they play. This was  taught on a topic "The Human Reproductive System". This is where I met the p* and the v*; at the age of eleven. Heheee

Now the campaign against the spread of HIV. This is what triggered me to say that Jesus is on his way. Considering the fact that the Holy Bible is against sex before marriage it seems to me that people no longer read the Bible. How can you tell a kid to have sexual intercourse using a condom? This is totally in sane.

Mary the mother of Jesus conceived through the power of the holy spirit. The news reached Joseph that Mary was pregnant and he was shocked. What was the reason? The duo were in a relationship but had never been intimate with each other as in they had never had sex. That's what the Bible say.

On the contrary, Kenyans want to introduce condoms to pupils from class six onwards. This is just an indirect way of encouraging immorality. Instead, they should campaign against early sex and encourage the young people to abstain just like they used to do before. Just to mention, a ten year old kid is a responsibility to his or her parents. I don't think there are parents who would advise their kids to have sex using a condom. Though the campaign could be helpful but again it can be more harmful because not all children above ten are sexually active. Some know  that the action  is not right. For this reason, these children will be misled since the campaign is kind of legalising this sexual act. I can imagine a class six boy putting on that oily thing on his small p*. Hihiii sounds funny.

Using condoms can never be the best way to control HIV spread among the youth. They'll use them as the campaign starts but after some very few months some will be the 'merimelas' saying that it's not sweet. You know what follows next. They'll start doing it without condoms and the results? No need to mention but the person I pity most is the girl child. Not only will she get the HIV but some early pregnancy shall also follow. People should consult Christina Shusho as she once told God "nipe macho nione"(give me eyes to see). My point here being that we only see where we step but not where we are headed to. This is a total disgrace before God. Repent, repent, repent again I say repent..to be continued