Bank of The Bahamas’ (BOB) banking on the go is getting the green light from customers.

Less than two months after it was introduced, BOB’s eNotifier that keeps customers in touch with their accounts 24/7 wherever they are is gaining traction and racking up nods of approval, according to the bank’s management.

“The response to electronic access to BOB has been amazing,” said Patricia James, Manager of BOB’s newest branch on Carmichael Road. “A decade ago there might have been some hesitation but nowadays people are so accustomed to using their tablets, smart phones or other devices for everything in their lives that accessing bank information and handling transactions the same way is perfectly natural. And customers love the convenience.”

Customers who sign up for the free service are notified by a system-generated message when a transaction passes through a specified account. Clients can also opt for notifications when a pre-determined minimum balance is reached.

“This product keeps the customer in touch with the bank as an active participant in managing accounts and protects the client against fraudulent activity by providing live, up-to-date balances the instant a transaction is processed,” said James. “Multiple accounts may also be monitored. All we need is an accurate email and a cell phone number.”

For one customer who has been with the bank since before it was BOB, the eNotifier provides a sense of comfort.

“When you make a withdrawal or a deposit or there is any activity in your account, you see it instantly. If my wife goes into the account, I will be informed and I think that’s a tremendous thing,” says one customer whose job makes it difficult for him to do his own banking during regular banking hours. Another customer in a Family Island echoes the enthusiasm, saying he can see when a family member makes a requested deposit or pays a bill as asked.

BOB eNotifier is the latest in a series of innovations by the bank that nearly 15 years ago took the bold step of becoming the first to offer trust services for Bahamians in B-dollars. Later, BOB was the first to launch a pre-paid credit card and a gift card, both VISA products.

Earlier this year, BOB introduced the portable, hand-held credit card processor. It has already proved a boost for business and a risk-free fee-based revenue stream for the publicly-held bank’s 4,000-plus shareholders. That system was introduced first to taxi and livery drivers.

“We introduced the Verifone 520 in late December and have already had reports from taxi drivers that they have not only experienced an increase in revenue as a result

because people are extending rides or tours, but they personally feel safer because they are operating in a cashless environment,” explained Leonardo Thompson, BOB Assistant Manager, Merchant Services.

Like the portable point of sale processor that makes paying for services or goods as easy as swiping a card wherever you are, BOB eNotifier follows the bank’s goals to create as many ‘transactions made simple’ as possible.

Founded in 1988, BOB operates 13 branches throughout The Bahamas and has been recognized eight times as the country’s best bank by international authorities.

Photo-caption

Green light for banking notices on the go -- BOB Carmichael Road Branch Manager Patricia James, left, shows a customer how the bank’s eNotifier works, alerting account holders to transactions as they occur. (Photo by Derek Smith, Jr.)