WINDHOEK, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Standard Bank Namibia has become the first bank in the country to reduce or waive charges for its digital platforms in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The bank said on Sunday that all transactional fees related to value-added services such as TV subscriptions, electricity and airtime purchases have been waived.
Cellphone banking and third-party payments through Enterprise Online, Internet Banking and the Standard Bank App will be discounted by 25 percent from April 1 until June 30, the bank said, adding that charges on BlueVoucher transactions will be reduced by 10 percent.
"We encourage our clients to transact from their homes using our digital offerings," the bank said in a statement. "We urge customers to only visit our branches when it is necessary."
The bank said visits to physical facilities present increasing risks of infections, or cross-contamination of the novel coronavirus, and are against against the spirit of social distancing.
The southwest African country has 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to government statistics released on Saturday.
