Interswitch and Equity Bank have entered into a partnership that gives Equity customers faster and more affordable access to banking services at over 650 Interswitch-enabled ATMs countrywide.
The partnership will also enable Equity Bank Uganda ATM machines to accept customer bank cards of other local participating banks and institutions on the Interswitch network. Equity Bank also becomes an acquirer for Verve cards adding to its wide portfolio of cards accepted by all Point-of-sale machine locations and ATMs countrywide. There are approximately 250,000 Verve card holders in Uganda.
Announcing the partnership at a press launch held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Thursday, May 2023, Interswitch Country General Manager, Peter Kawumi, noted that the partnership is ideal and timely. He pointed out that for the past 20 years, Interswitch has provided technology solutions to businesses to allow them to provide their customers with accessible, seamless, and affordable banking services.
“This partnership demonstrates an interesting shift in the attainment of service quality and competitive advantage. By joining the Interswitch network, Equity Bank will now benefit from the entire ecosystem that includes all the other financial institutions, and their consumers in Uganda and across the region. In this way, Equity Bank has achieved two key things. Firstly, the cost of transacting at ATMs and merchant locations has been significantly reduced. For example, withdrawal transactions for Equity Bank customers at Interswitch enabled ATMs, as well as customers of other financial institutions at Equity Bank ATMs has now gone down by over 60% – that is a significant saving,” said Peter Kawumi, Interswitch Country General Manager.
Speaking during the launch, Equity Bank Managing Director Anthony Kituuka said, “We are delighted and proud of our rapid growth and expansion in Uganda over the last 15 years, bringing us to 50 branches, 7,000 Equi Duuka agents and over 6,500 merchants. This new partnership with Interswitch will support the existing network and allow us to serve our customers better and meet their financial needs right at their doorsteps. Even as the Bank continues to grow, we are committed to offering Ugandans a great customer experience with a variety of tailor-made products that speak to their financial needs.”
“Whether you are a farmer, a retail or wholesale trader or on transit, Equity bank services will now be accessible across 650 Interswitch-enabled ATMs, allowing you to efficiently deposit funds, make withdrawals or make payments. We are keen on growing with our customers and are looking forward to serving them better with this new partnership as well as working with other partners and contributing to their transformation,” Kituuka added.