The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has expanded its instant card issuance services by introducing an Instant Visa Debit Card service as part of its E-Banking transformation agenda. This brings the instant issuance of card services to three: namely the Gh-link instant card service, instant Visa Contactless Prepaid Card service and the latest, the instant Visa Debit Contactless Card service.
The instant card issuance service’s objective is to enhance convenience and customer experience. The initiative now allows customers and non-customers, or walk-in customers (Visa Prepaid Card, meant for customers and non-customers), to instantly grab their cards for their instant or future transactions – whether local or international.
The instant issuance of cards is currently being done at 29 selected branches across the country, mostly at the regional capitals, market centres and district capitals. It is worth stating that all other branches across the country still issue all cards, albeit not instantly. The plan is to roll-out the instant issuance service across all ADB branches.
Branches currently issuing the instant cards are: Ridge, Osu, Kaneshie, Dansoman, Ring Road Central (RRC), Gulf House, Tema Meridian, Kasoa, Madina, Accra New Town, Nungua, Abeka Lapaz, Spintex, Ho, Hohoe, Denu, Sogakope, Kumasi Nhyiaeso, Kumasi Prempeh II, Obuasi, Sunyani, Techiman, Cape Coast, Agona Swedru, Takoradi Harbour, Tamale Main, Tamale Aboabo, Bolgatanga and Wa.
Transformational agenda
The Managing Director-ADB PLC, Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu-Tali, in his remarks expressed enthusiasm about the new service; stating that the initiative is a testament of the bank’s commitment to making banking more accessible and convenient for its valued customers.
He noted that the new service form part of ADB’s transformational agenda toward improving its digital banking segment to enhance service delivery, convenience, and customer experience. This, he said, marks a significant departure from the traditional card issuance process that sometimes delays a bit.
“To meet customer expectations and improve the turnaround time on card issuance and delivery, the new service will allow customers to walk into any of the 29 branches to request and instantly receive not only the Gh-Link card and Visa Prepaid Card but also Visa Debit Cards for online transactions, among others,” he said.
Alhaji Yakubu-Tali indicated that customers are increasingly leveraging technology to facilitate their banking transactions, and that it is incumbent on ADB to redirect its service delivery to not only enhance the overall customer experience but also be at par with competition in the rapidly changing financial sector landscape.
“By embracing technology, we are not only enhancing the overall customer experience but also staying at par with competition in the rapidly changing financial industry,” he stated.
The ADB MD assured customers that management is working assiduously to extend the instant card issuance service to all branches nationwide. He added that while steps are being taken to extend the instant card issuance service to all branches, measures have been put in place to ensure branches that are not currently issuing the cards instantly provide their swift delivery to customers.
Robust security measures
In addition to the convenience factor, Head-IT, Mr. Emmanuel Ofori Boateng, disclosed that the bank’s instant card issuance system prioritises security and has implemented robust measures to ensure the process is secure and complies with industry and international standards.
He added that ADB has been certified and is compliant with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 27001 and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to safeguard customers against potential risks associated with card issuance and usage.
In his remarks, Head of E-Business, Mr. Alex Forson, stated that ADB is positioning itself among the top-tier banks within the electronic banking space. He indicated that ADB was the first bank to introduce the Contactless Point of Sale (POS) devices, and was also among the first banks to introduce a Visa Contactless Prepaid Card service (tap and pay) in Ghana.
“The bank will continue expanding its E-Banking service delivery to continue serving the changing needs of our customers,” he said. “Management is committed to creating expansive and robust e-platforms; continue to offer improved service delivery; and provide optimal comfort and convenience to our customers,” he added.
Mr. Forson indicated that the instant issuance of cards aligns with the bank’s broader strategy to leverage technology and innovation in providing efficient and customer-centric solutions. He reiterated the bank’s commitment to continual innovation in better-serving valued customers and other stakeholders.
