Rethabile Pitso
LEC MD Mbele Hoohlo shakes on the deal with SLB CE Mpho Vumbukani yesterday.
STANDARD Lesotho Bank (SLB) has struck a deal with the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) to enable account-holders to purchase electricity using their mobile phones.
The mobile banking facility, which was trending on social media networks under the hashtag #nthotsebohlale, is meant to provide convenience to SLB account-holders, whose access to the commodity is now, literally, at their fingertips.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Maseru yesterday, SLB Chief Executive Mpho Vumbukani said the initiative was in line with the bank’s plan to accommodate its techno-savvy clientele as well as those who use their mobile phones daily to enable them easy access to basic services.
Mr Vumbukani said the launch followed a successful pilot project of the service between SLB and LEC staff members as well as a few selected members of the public. He expressed confidence that the facility will work well without any glitches.
“As a bank we are aware of the way in which technology has transformed development in all its facets, which also include banking,” said Mr Vumbukani.
“This new offering is testament to the fact that Standard Lesotho Bank has a big appetite for technological advancement since it makes banking more convenient to our customers.
“Most importanly, we welcome this development as it has brought us together with the Lesotho Electricity Company in our bid to find the best ways to improve the services we offer our customers.”
Following registration, the service will also enable account-holders to purchase airtime, subscribe for DSTV and pay for water.
To access the service, Econet subscribers enter *128#, while Vodacom users enter *120*2345#.
According to SLB Head of Marketing Makeabetsoe Mabaleha, the new payment system is cost effective and transparent since it enables account-holders to register for the service using a mobile number of their choice to receive notification after every transaction.
On his part, LEC Managing Director Mbele Hoohlo hailed the initiative as another milestone the company had achieved in its endeavour to improve access to their service.
“This is yet another milestone that we have reached in our attempts to ensure the widest possible access to electricity for our customers,” Mr Hoohlo said.
“The partnership with Standard Bank is a step further in making it easy for our customers to buy electricity anytime, anywhere.”
