SBM Bank Kenya closes five branches in digital push

 

SBM Bank branch on Mama Ngina Street in Nairobi. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU

By BONFACE OTIENO
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SUMMARY

• SBM Bank Kenya will shut down five of its branches across the country next month as it continues to push customers to embrace digital banking.
• The lender, which shut down five of its branches countrywide last December said it will close its  Lavington, Buru Buru and Kimathi Street branches, an exercise that will take effect on October 29.

• SBM Bank Kenya will shut down five of its branches across the country next month as it continues to push customers to embrace digital banking.

  The lender, which shut down five of its branches countrywide last December said it will close its  Lavington, Buru Buru and Kimathi Street branches, an exercise that will take effect on October 29.

  The bank will also shut down its express units in Limuru and along Ngong Road in Nairobi.

  “At SBM Bank Kenya we plan to leverage on the growing mobile usage in the country to offer digital products that will make banking for our customers more efficient and convenient,” said Moezz Mir, chief executive of SBM Bank Kenya in a statement yesterday.

  He said employees in the five affected branches will be re-deployed to other branches across the county. The bank refused to disclose the number of workers who were in the five branches.

  The bank said that customers who were seeking services at Lavington Branch will now go to Elite Branch located at ABC Place along Waiyaki Way.

  Buru Buru Branch customers will get the banks’ services at Donholm Branch located at East Gate Shopping Mall, Outering Road.

  Kimathi Branch customers will seek services of the bank at Corner House branch located at Corner House building along Kimathi Street.

  Customers who were banking at SBM Xpress Limuru Road will now go to Diamond Plaza Branch located at Diamond Plaza in Parklands.

  SBM Xpress Ngong Road customers will however seek the servic4es of the bank at Kilimani Adlife located at Adlife plaza in  Kilimani , Nairobi.

  Customers in the affected branches will access services such as cheque book collection, ATMs and Family PesaPap agency in nearby branches.

  “Currently, 82 per cent of our customers transact through alternate channels which include cards and mobile transactions enabled by digitization.  In the present day, amidst the pandemic, more people are embracing technology and the use of hand-held devices for day-to-day activities,” he said.