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TPB creates instant ’cash shops’
2005-11-30 09:31:33
By Felix Andrew
Tanzania Postal Bank’s (TPB) customers who possess Uhuru Cards have a reason to smile, thanks to the bank’s decision to bring banking services to their doorsteps.
The TPB has selected ten merchants who would be providing money services to the TPB customers residing in Dar es Salaam.
The merchants’ role would be issuing quick money on demand at the selected ten points of sale in the city.
Going by the name of Pesa Chap Chap, the service would allow customers to access their cash from such points of sale (POS) located near their residences.
Speaking during the launching ceremony in Dar es Salaam last week, the TPB’s Acting Managing Director, James Mpayo, said the service would be provided by selected TanPay service providers.
Customers who possess Uhuru cards would benefit from the POS machines without walking long distances to get cash from ATMs or bank branches.
The service, dubbed ’the bank without going to the bank”, was intended to reduce time and save unnecessary expenditure in travel fares.
The service is also said to be of benefit to small and medium entrepreneurs when it comes to quick access to cash.
The service would be available 24 hours a day.
At present, the bank had signed contracts with ten merchants who will be providing such banking services in Dar es Salaam.
’Some of the merchants who are providing Pesa Chap Chap services in Dar es Salaam are Engen Service station located in Mbezi Beach, the Imalaseko Supermarket along Garden Avenue, Patco Supermarket located in Mbezi Beach, BP Patco close to the airport and BP Patco in Sinza and Hadees Fast Food centre along Azikiwe street.
Before the establishment of this service, a customer living in Mbezi beach areas had to board two bus trips to reach an ATM outlet downtown or look for money in town office, which would cost one about Tshs. 800 in return fare.
Now the same service would cost one less or only Tshs 200 and the bank would charge Tshs. 350 as transaction costs.
A customer is allowed to take up to Tshs. 50,000 per transaction.
The bother of looking for extra time for banking services would also be minimized.
The chances for getting robbed of cash by street urchins likewise become slim.
TPB plans to extend the service upcountry soon, starting with Arusha, Mbeya, and Zanzibar, he noted.
Since its launch last April this year, the UhuruCard service has attracted about 25,000 customers countrywide.
The FBME BANK LIMITED also provides the Tanpay services. This means that the FMBE’s customers will also enjoy the Pesa Chap Chap services.
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