Giving credit where it is due
This lack of virtual banking exposure is a problem that is not being recognised by financial institutions
Many South African businesses situated outside of the urban periphery rely on a cash-based system to remain operational. This is due to many factors, but one of the most prevalent aspects is a lack of exposure to banking channels. Communities in remote areas do not have regular access to conventional banking platforms such as automatic teller machines or physical bank branches to access salaries. These communities also do not use virtual purchases and payments. Historically, banks have tried to bridge this gap by offering "cash back", a form of withdrawing money from bank accounts at retail tills, and more recently by offering online and cellphone banking. One of the influences obstructing the usage of online banking in rural areas is erratic data coverage. Not only is stable coverage unlikely where it is most needed, but it is sporadic due to a lack of robust infrastructure. Due to the security precautions in place over online banking, the time spent waiting for signal to reconnect...
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