With two other too-big-to-fail banks pushing their services onto Whatsapp, First Bank is keen on not being left out.
Via its Twitter handle, Nigeria’s largest bank by customers announced its own Whatsapp Business suite called “Chat Business”.
Chat Business aims to provide a personalized messaging platform for business. Using Whatsapp Business, customer quirks like making enquiries and paying bills become easier and more social.
Imagine a world where you can engage with your bank via Whatsapp…Don’t imagine, it’s here!
Receiving real-time responses on all your questions is now a reality with FirstBank ‘Chat Banking’ suite. #WhatsappBanking#Bankinggetscloser #Jointhetrain #Innovation #YouFirst pic.twitter.com/dw6xkTaaR6— FirstBank Nigeria (@FirstBankngr) August 2, 2018
Unlike UBA, First Bank doesn’t have its own banking chatbot for customers to use. However, the Whatsapp Business platform comes a unique set of APIs that allow businesses to develop simple interaction systems with the user.
With it, businesses can create profiles, and quickly interact with customers easily by using tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages.
Big banks like GTBank and UBA have announced new banking services on the platform.
According to GT Bank CEO, Segun Agbaje, “By leveraging the WhatsApp Business Solution, we are continuing to expand our service channels as part of our commitment to making banking, cheaper, faster and readily accessible to customers wherever and whenever they choose to bank.”
On its part, UBA has introduced its chatbot, Leo, onto the platform. Leo will become fully active on the platform by September.
Why the Craze over Whatsapp Business Now?
The Whatsapp Business platform has been available since January 2018. When it launched, the platform allowed businesses, particularly small businesses, to interact with customers. Since then, it has grown steadily and is now being used by 3 million customers.
However, recently the platform got a new feature called Whatsapp Business API. The API provides a whole new customer interaction experience for businesses.
It allows a new way for people to quickly start a WhatsApp conversation from an ad on Facebook. Ads connected with Whatsapp Business API allow users to chat with a business when they tap the ad. It’s thrilling!
It’s the sort of direct customer engagement most businesses aim for. Businesses can now give more personalized services, intimate their customers on new services, and use it to draw in new customers.
It is, therefore, no surprise that Nigerian banks are rushing to get a Whatsapp Business outlet.
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