Early last week, Union Bank of Nigeria launched its new mobile banking app at Heritage Place, Ikoyi, Lagos. One of the solutions of the app is the ‘Locate an Agent’ feature that allows users find Union Bank sales agents Uber style.

Through this feature, app users can request sales agents the way they would request a ride on the Uber platform. They can request that the sales agent pick up cash from them for deposit (a maximum of 25,000 naira) or withdraw cash on their behalf. To ensure security and guarantee trust, Union Bank will bear the risk; so, when a customer requests that an agent come pick up their cash for deposit, the agent enters the details of this transaction immediately so that the customer receives their credit alert right there, then the agent will leave to make the deposit.

At the event, Folorunsho Orimoloye, Head, Alternative Channels at Union Bank said, “The ‘Locate an Agent’ feature is especially targeted at small business owners who need to bank their revenue daily. These customers have often expressed frustration about their inability to deposit daily cash or the challenge of having to rush to banks to ensure they make deposits before the end of banking hours.”

He added that this feature is “a first from Union Bank”, no other bank in Nigeria has done this before.

Through the app, users can also open new accounts and make regular cash transfers.

Also, the app offers users the ATM locator feature. Whenever a user wants to make a withdrawal from a Union Bank ATM, they can check the app to see which machines are currently functioning and dispensing. Furthermore, users can make cardless withdrawals from ATMs using the app. What’s more? The app allows users make several transfers to beneficiaries at the same time, allows them to create loan schedules, book a fixed deposit and open target savings accounts such as UnionKorrect, UnionFuture and UnionGoal.

The Union Bank mobile platform also caters to users with feature phones as the bank unveiled its own USSD code: *826#. The code allows the feature phone users to open accounts, check their account balance, check their BVN numbers, generate OTPs for internet banking transactions, get mini – statements, bill payments and do cashless transfers. This USSD code, according to Union Bank, is the first created by a Nigerian bank as other banks have to rely on a Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) USSD code for mCash payments.