First National Bank (FNB) and NCR Corporation (NCR), the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, won the award for Best ATM and Kiosk Project in Africa, at The Asian Banker’s Middle East and Africa Country 2014 Award ceremony. FNB was the only bank in Africa to win an award in this category and was joined at the ceremony by Bytes Managed Solutions, which represents NCR exclusively in Southern Africa.

FNB won the award for its successful implementation of NCR’s innovative SelfServ 4 slim line kiosk, which was developed for installation where space is at a premium. As a compact, indoor financial kiosk, the technology allows FNB to offer a complementary channel to tellers and ATMs, supporting convenient delivery of transactional banking services to the underbanked in South Africa.

The NCR solution is also a perfect platform for non-cash transactions such as account maintenance. Designed with banks and their customers in mind, it allows FNB to extend software from a number of channels onto its platform, leveraging the investment made in current channels as well as providing a familiar interface to the bank’s customers.

Held in Dubai, the 2014 edition of the awards was attended by more than 100 senior bankers from across the Middle East and Africa. Considered the most prestigious award ceremony of its kind, the awards recognize the best efforts by the consumer financial services industry in bringing superior technology, products and services to their customers.

“The Asian Banker Technology Implementation Awards Program provides the undisputed benchmark of the technology implementation in an increasingly fierce marketplace,” says Foo Boon Ping, marketing editor, Asian Banker Technology Implementation Awards Program. “We congratulate First National Bank and NCR Corporation, as well as its South Africa technology partner Bytes Managed Solutions, on this prestigious win.”

NCR and Bytes Managed Solutions worked with FNB to build a solution in support of its inclusion banking strategy. The NCR SelfServ 4 includes innovative features that allow for barcode scanning, biometric authentication and full statement printing. The kiosks provide FNB customers with the ability to transact with the bank in remote locations outside of branch and banking hours.

“In partnering with NCR and Bytes Managed Solutions, we completed comprehensive software upgrades on our NCR Slimline Kiosks to enable account interaction such as transfers and payments. In the process we created a unique kiosk designed specifically for emerging market and lower income needs. The FNB Slimline kiosk also has great potential across all our market segments from personal to business and commercial due to its deep digital banking ability and biometrics,” says Aziz Cassim, Head of Self Service Channels at FNB.

“This is an important recognition of FNB’s bank technology leadership and we congratulate the bank for its commitment to innovation that makes customers’ lives easier,” says Deidre le Hanie, MD, Bytes Managed Solutions.

“As an integral partner to FNB, and the exclusive distributor and service provider for NCR in South Africa and selected neighbouring countries, we applaud both organisations on this win, and we are proud of our involvement in and contribution to the banking group’s technology strategy and implementation,” adds Le Hanie.

“The award is an acknowledgment of the superior solution and service offering that we have provided for our customer, FNB, in partnership with NCR. Together, we deliver projects that are transforming the banking industry on this continent.”