Martijn Vreugde's Hangout

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Hi, I'm Martijn Vreugde this is a collection of my rambling thoughts on modern media, inspirational design and... well pretty much anything I found interesting enough to share with you fine upstanding folks of the internet.

Showing 4 posts tagged FNB

FNB has introduced very impressive New Functionality on their Banking App

I just got a mail telling me about the very impressive upgrade in features to their iPhone App

You may have heard about the new innovation on the FNB Banking App called “Geo Payments”. Geo Payments allows you to find ‘n pay other FNB App users within a 500m radius without having to add their Bank account details.
It works a little something like this:

FNB, leagues ahead of the pack FNB continue to build competitive advantage over their Big Four counterparts. Recently they’ve rewired their offering and communication to focus on benefits and value. In another milestone they have just launched their new branch concept: Dot FNB is a high-tech, service geared, cashless environment (except for ATMs) that’s said to be “a whole new level in banking efficiency”. The clear line of sight, high tech feel and counter full of tablets on display make it easily mistakable for a technology retailer. Their apps are built for all platforms (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Palm and Nokia) so they offer the latest model gadgets. With Microsoft Surface they’ve developed an interactive table with financial planning tools (gimmick maybe, but this table features often in design concepts and far less often in reality): Their Dot FNB app uses augmented reality to overlay information on things within the branch. If you point a device running the app at any of their products (which are merchandised in boxes) the app unpacks the box in front of your eyes to let you know what features that product offers: If you point the device at an FNB logo it brings up the history of FNB: The branch only features electronic posters, which I’d presume can be centrally controlled across all their branches: Their conference cubicles offer very efficient video conferencing technology for video consultations, so you can chat face to face with your banker from any branch with this feature: To top off the new branch they only close at 19:00 on week days and 16:00 on Sundays and public holidays: Disclaimer: the gentleman that showed me around gave me permission to take photos and blog them, saying, “why not, free advertising..”

FNB, leagues ahead of the pack

FNB continue to build competitive advantage over their Big Four counterparts. Recently they’ve rewired their offering and communication to focus on benefits and value. In another milestone they have just launched their new branch concept: Dot FNB is a high-tech, service geared, cashless environment (except for ATMs) that’s said to be “a whole new level in banking efficiency”.

The clear line of sight, high tech feel and counter full of tablets on display make it easily mistakable for a technology retailer.

Their apps are built for all platforms (iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Palm and Nokia) so they offer the latest model gadgets.

With Microsoft Surface they’ve developed an interactive table with financial planning tools (gimmick maybe, but this table features often in design concepts and far less often in reality):

Their Dot FNB app uses augmented reality to overlay information on things within the branch. If you point a device running the app at any of their products (which are merchandised in boxes) the app unpacks the box in front of your eyes to let you know what features that product offers:

If you point the device at an FNB logo it brings up the history of FNB:

The branch only features electronic posters, which I’d presume can be centrally controlled across all their branches:

Their conference cubicles offer very efficient video conferencing technology for video consultations, so you can chat face to face with your banker from any branch with this feature:

To top off the new branch they only close at 19:00 on week days and 16:00 on Sundays and public holidays:

Disclaimer: the gentleman that showed me around gave me permission to take photos and blog them, saying, “why not, free advertising..”

@StandardBankGrp takes @Rbjacobs (FNB Guy) in Twitter battle

Standard Bank, which is one of South Africa’s largest financial institutions, has gone “gloves off” with FNB (another large South African bank) on Twitter.

Follow the hashtags #FNB and #StandardBank

Over the last few months First National Bank, a Division of First Rand Bank LTD, has made a concerted effort to portray itself as a customer-Orientated bank. Its official Twitter account, @rbjacobs, has been on call virtually 24 hours a day helping FNB clients with any and all problems and banking queries. FNB also made waves last year when it launched South Africa’s first Mobile Banking App on iPhone, Android and Blackberry simultaneously and then weeks later launched discounted smartphones and tablets with interest-free loans to Gold and Platinum Clients. The active involvement of FNB CEO Michael Jordaan has also helped personalise the relationship between FNB customers and the bank. This has created a virtual army of FNB evangelists that would make Steve Jobs and his Mac Fanboys proud.

The marketing campaign went into overdrive on radio when “Steve” from Bleep-Bank called unhappy consumers to find out why they were switching to FNB.

It was only a matter of time before one of the other “Big Four” banks (the other two being ABSA and Nedbank) responded to FNB’s robust marketing drive.

The tweet stream started when Standard Bank announced that it would be laying a complaint against FNB with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for the “Steve” ads.

The rest of the article by Tony Seifart with tons of embed tweets showing whats happening is here

Just signed away my first born to FNB

So I just signed up to the new Smart phone/device promotion with FNB because well to be frank, Standard Bank was driving me crazy with their ineptitude. Standard bank just last month locked all my accounts and didn’t even notify me, even though they have my Cell phone number, Home Number, Work Number and Email address, because… wait for it…. hide the children…. are you sitting down…. the colosally suspicious transaction of R8.14 THE HORROR!!!!!! Now just to clarify, that’s R8 and 14 cents I’ve tiped car guards more money. Thankfully I wasn’t on any dates at the time otherwise I’d be in the back doing dishes while the girl sent sms’s to her ex.

Now FNB over the last few years has really shown they are moving with the times. Investing in IT and helping the users/customers, they even have an iPhone App people!! I mean come on! Their Online banking system is slick and jacked up (Don’t ask about Standard Banks online presence, it’s just so sad, and I don’t wanna kick them when they are down) you can even do Forex online.

Now mention must be made to the event of the year, that they hold every year… the legendary… the epic… FNB Whisky Live Festival which to be honest I look forward to more than my birthday.

How it has taken me this long…. I just don’t know….

So, soon my new toy will arrive, don’t look at me like that, I chose them for their banking practices not the new gadget…honest…I swear….Oh shut up.