TekStart Africa and Software Group Enable Financial Services at eKiosk in Ghana
TekStart Africa Limited is a leading technology provider of agency services in rural and underserved communities in Ghana under the brand name eKiosk. TekStart partnered with Software Group, experienced in driving financial inclusion across the globe, in order to deploy its Agency Banking platform and provide an array of financial services across the 16 regions of Ghana.
Built on the flagship digital banking platform DigiWave, Agency Banking is one of Software Group’s signature solutions, which enables banks to implement cost-efficient, branchless operations in remote areas through a network of local agents and merchants.
Phase 1 of the project went live on the 4th of November 2021 in the Asuogyaman District of Ghana, enabling both customers and agents to perform a wide variety of financial operations such as eKiosk registration, Mobile Money Cash in and Cash out, Bank deposit to bank account, Bill payments, Float rebalance, Transfer, Agent commission posting, Airtime top up, and more.
The Asuogyaman District of Ghana has less than ten formal bank branches serving an area greater than 1,500 sq Km and the new eKiosk platform has created 18 new locations where people can get financial services delivered at their doorsteps in an efficient and consistent manner. As well as expanding financial inclusion, the initiative generates local employment opportunities. So far 40 agents have been onboarded for the pilot and roll-out across the nation is expected to increase numbers to 5000 within the next 3 years.
The next phase of the project is to introduce additional eGovernment and financial services on the platform.