Two 5th generation ATM Machines deployed

In its determined effort to continue to ensure further convenience to The Gambian Banking public, Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Limited, has introduced Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to its channels of service delivery and contact with the customers. For a start, one ATM equipment each has been installed and are now functional at the Kairaba and Senegambia branches of the bank respectively.

The ATM service channel has been deployed by the bank after intensive market research. The end result was the deployment of two, brand new, state of the art, 5th generation machines, to avoid frequent breakdowns associated with old and fairly used machines. The deployment of the machines is further backed up by service contract with a reputable NCR representative in The Gambia whose technical knowledge of the machines is excellent. To ensure 24 hours uninterruptible service delivery from the machines, the bank has upgraded its power supply system. The upgraded power system ensures that the machines and the bank’s database are kept up all the time. Finally, there is a monitoring console, which communicates on an on-line-real-time basis, the functional status of each machine in the bank’s network irrespective of its location.

All the above have been put in place to ensure that the users of the bank’s card branded “CashPlus” enjoy convenient and uninterrupted access to the machines 24 hours, 1 week, 365 days a year. The state of the art machines have been configured to render the following services; cash lodgment, cash dispense, statement printing, checking account balance, transfer of funds between accounts etc.

The machines are also very user friendly with soft touch buttons and very easy to use with an interactive screen and voice communication, The choice of the machine brand was made to ensure that customer confidence and convenience is sustained.

In the words of the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Lekan Sanusi, “every business decision in the bank always rank as prime, the convenience of customers. It has therefore taken GTBank so long a time to deploy the ATM service as we always desire to things right at the very first attempt. This is what is call Total Quality Management. In essence, with our level of preparedness and research before going live today, all issues and past experience of users in the environment have been duly considered. What I can promise customers can be summarized in a slogan which reads “GTBank ATM……… it works 24/7/365”

According to the Head of Information Technology, Mr Muyiwa Ayodele, ‘ATM business is a specialized part of banking service which can only run flawlessly to customers delight if adequate preparation is carried out before its deployment. As part of our expansion plans, more machines would be deployed in the next couple of months, while the platforms for deploying add on service channels such as Visa card and Master card deployment, Point of Sales Terminal (POS), Web Pay, Air Time Vending, Mobile Top Up etc are already in place. Typical of GTBank, we are ready to move in this direction and the sky is the limit’, he promised.

Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Ltd. Which started operations on the 5th March 2002, is a subsidiary of GTBank place, whose shares was recently listed on the London Stock Exchange, and remains today, the first and the only African bank, as well as the first Nigerian company to be listed on the exchange.

GTBank Gambia is reputed to have the fastest rate of branch expansion in The Gambia and is rated by industry watchers as the third largest bank in The Gambia based on published 2006 balance sheet size of banks in the country. In addition to its magnificent Head Office situated at Kairaba Avenue, there are four (4) branches located in Banjul, Serrekunda, Brikama and Senegambia. Two additional branches are under construction in Kanifing and Serekunda markets respectively.

The bank offers a wide range of innovative and customer friendly products and services including GTSave, Smart Kid Save, GTB Bankers’ Acceptance, Statement by E-Mail, E-Banking service, SMS banking, GeNS, Slip Free, Swift Mailer. Etc. The last three are unique and only available in GTBank alone in The Gambia.