Housing Finance Bank (HFB) customers in Uganda can now do routine banking at more than 23,000 Quickteller agent outlets. The bank announced the partnership with payments firm Interswitch on Wednesday, the Nile Post reported. Customers can deposit cash, withdraw money and check balances without visiting a branch.
The agents operate in urban centres, peri-urban areas and rural trading centres. The outlets also offer extended operating hours. The bank said the deal would grow its alternative banking channels. It would also shorten the distance customers travel for everyday transactions.
The process is simple. To deposit, a customer gives the agent their account number, account name and the amount. To withdraw, they present their HFB debit card at the agent's point-of-sale terminal and enter a four-digit PIN. The same card works for balance checks, which show real-time account information.
Robert K. Mugabe, the bank's chief operations officer, said expanding access means rethinking how and where customers deal with their bank. He said easier cash deposits and card-based withdrawal points would give customers more flexibility. He added that the move supports the bank's commitment to financial inclusion.
Moris Seguya, Interswitch Uganda's country general manager, said the goal was to make financial services simpler and more convenient for every Ugandan. He said HFB customers can now get full banking services at Quickteller agents. Agents, in turn, gain new ways to grow their businesses.
The bank also expects the deal to help it mobilise deposits and drive wider use of its debit cards. For agents, banking transactions mean extra revenue. The Nile Post noted that financial institutions are increasingly using agent networks to cut reliance on physical branches and bring services closer to customers.