Absa launches banking for Facebook Messenger

Absa is set to launch a world banking first, it said: ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger.

Absa said the “world-first in banking technology” will allow customers to conduct banking without having to leave their “favourite social media platform”.

“The launch of the banking service on Facebook Messenger follows soon after the introduction of Absa ChatBanking on Twitter in May this year,” said Absa.

Absa customers will be able to use Facebook Messenger as well as Twitter to conduct the following transactions:

Get the their transactional account balance
Buy airtime or data
Get a mini-statement
Buy prepaid electricity for selected municipalities
Make a payment to existing beneficiaries

Absa said accessing ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger is a one-time only process.

“Absa customers who are registered for Absa Online and have access to the Express tab, can register for ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger.”

To add a Facebook Messenger profile, customers must:

Logon to Absa Online
From the Express tab in Absa Online click on Settings
Click on Manage ChatBanking
Click on Add Profile and follow the prompts

“Once you have added your profile via Express on Absa Online and verified your profile by sending a private message to AbsaChatBanking via Facebook Messenger, you need to send a private message saying “hi” to get started.”

ChatBanking was scheduled to launch on Tuesday (19 July).