EazzyApp: Banking at the Tip of Your Fingers

I think most of what I do now has a component of tech in it. I get most of my news from apps like Twitter and my entertainment from YouTube and a myriad of VoD platforms. There’s a convenience that comes from being able to control how, when and what I consume that I cannot get over. When it comes to banking, the level of convenience has always been on the limited side with a lot of time needed to get even the simplest things done. It has felt like banking has been a step behind in technological advances as compared to other industries which has been discouraging for savvy tech users like myself. Thankfully, this has changed with the EazzyApp.

Equity Bank is no stranger to disruption, having turned the banking world on its head when it proved that the so called unbankable population that mostly consists of the informal sector could be converted into a loyal customer base. Over the years, the bank has gained a reputation for being the bank of the commo mwananchi and for being robust and reliable. I opened an Equity account when I went to campus, as did most of my friends, and have kept it open since then because it’s a reliable bank and I honestly, didn’t want to go through the process of closing the account. Fast forward to 2016, and I was impressed by the bank’s resolution to once again disrupt the banking sector by going digital.

The move to digital was inspired by Equity customers like myself who wanted to have more control of their banking experience. Rather than having banking as a separate chore on customers’ to do lists, Equity created a suite of digital products that would incorporate banking into our lifestyles.  I downloaded the EazzyApp off the Playstore as soon as I received the news and can’t believe how intuitive and convenient it is.

Some of the things that have stood out for me from the EazzyApp include:

• Security: The app generates a PIN specifically for your mobile banking activities. I must admit I wasn’t thrilled to have another PIN to remember but it’s worth it for security purposes. You can also block your cards and cheques conveniently from the app.
• Account summary: It’s always a plus when you can easily view all the transactions on your account.
• Buy Airtime/Bundle: There’s an icon specifically for buying airtime and bundles.
• Pay Bill: Pay bill numbers are listed in alphabetical order making it as easy as abc to send payments.
• Withdraw cash: This function basically turns your phone into an ATM card. You can withdraw from an agent or an ATM using your phone. To withdraw from an ATM, select Equitel on the ATM screen and follow the instructions. The function even shows the ATMs closest to you on a map.
• Send money: The options are quite exhaustive. You can transfer money to your other Equity accounts, Equitel line, MPesa account and other bank accounts. There is also an ambitious option of sending code for cash withdrawal via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp that is not yet functional.

With more than 80% of the bank’s loan products being accessed through mobile banking, the appetite for self-service banking is evident. This is a welcome trend and a precursor to an exciting future in banking in Kenya and I’m glad to be on board  for the ride.