FNB discounts smartphones, tablets

First National Bank (FNB) today announced that it intends providing customers with smartphones and tablets at reduced rates.

FNB will effectively lower the cost of these devices by up to 35%. The bank is actively promoting day to day banking via electronic banking channels, such as the FNB Banking App, internet and mobile banking, as well as paying for your goods with your card rather than cash. FNB clients will be able to select from a range of smartphones or tablets, including the popular Apple iPad 2.

The smartphones will come preloaded with the FNB Banking App, South Africa’s first transactional banking App. This App, since its launch has remained one of the most downloaded South African apps across all app stores including Apple App Store, Blackberry App World and Android Market. Use of smartphones and tablets are also on the increase, with an estimated 8 million smartphones in circulation to date. The Apple iPad 2, which forms part of this offering is the world’s leading tablet device in terms of market share.

Kartik Mistry, Product Owner at FNB Core Banking Solutions explains that ‚this initiative is aimed at putting smartphones and tablets, including the world’s most popular tablet, the Apple iPad 2 in the hands of our customers in order to promote access to electronic banking. A key feature of this offer is the affordability both in terms of bank fees and mobile devices.‚

FNB Cheque Account customers will be able to select from a range of smartphones such as the HTC Sensation, HTC Wildfire S or Research In Motion (RIM) phone BlackBerry Curve 8520. Customers who already have smartphones will also be able to select an Apple iPad 2 or HTC Flyer tablet.

The device costs will be included in the customer’s monthly banking fees. For the Apple iPad 2 for instance, there are generally no finance options available to the market, so this addresses accessibility. We are proud to say that this is another first from FNB,‚ says Mistry.

The FNB Banking App allows customers to do the following:

The smartphone and tablet offer is available to new and existing FNB customers. Customers who wish to take up this offer should SMS ‚phone‚ or ‚tablet‚ to 32812 (standard network rates apply). Gold and Platinum Cheque Account customers and soon also FNB Private Clients and RMB Private Bank clients, will have access to this offer.

Irlon Terblanche, Head of Products, Debit Cards and Analytics says: ‚this is another in a series of bold moves in innovations in electronic banking and mobile payments. We expect to make more exciting announcements in the coming months regarding further innovations on our tablet and smartphone banking platforms.‚

Handset

Retail Price*

Discounted Price

Fee (24 months)

Payback

Interest

Cost of interest the customer would save at a rate of 12% over 24 months.

Account Type

Apple iPad 2

R 5,699

R 4,800 (16% off)

R 200

R 4,800

0%

R1,537

Platinum & Gold Cheque Accounts

HTC Sensation

R 5,900

R 4,800 (19% off)

R 200

R4,800

0%

R1,591

Platinum & Gold Cheque Accounts

Blackberry Curve 8520

R 1,999

R 1,608 (15% off)

R 70

R1,680

0%

R539

Platinum & Gold Cheque Accounts

HTC Flyer

R 6,900

R 4,800 (30% off)

R 200

R 4,800

0%

R1,861

Platinum & Gold Cheque Accounts

HTC Wildfire S

R 2,600

R 1680 (35% off)

R 70

R1,680

0%

R701

Platinum & Gold Cheque Accounts

*Retail Price will and will vary from retailer to retailer. Offer is subject to terms and conditions and only available from 19 October 2011*

* Follow Gadget on Twitter on @gadgetza