Equity Bank Rwanda has unveiled a one-year campaign that seeks to promote the usage of different Visa cards to pay for goods and services. The campaign dubbed “Ikarita ikora hose: card that works everywhere” will see customers win exciting prizes ranging from household appliances, brand new laptops, shopping and travel vouchers as well many other exciting monthly prizes from June to December 2021. The Bank offers debit and credit card services and is on course to introduce other prepaid cards. On Wednesday, June 18, two new debit cards were also launched. These include USD-denominated Equity Bank Visa Gold Debit Card and Equity Bank Visa Infinite Card. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Equity Bank said all cards issued by Equity are contactless, a feature that shortens the amount of time that a customer spends when making payments in crowded stores such as supermarkets, hotels among others. The key insight behind this campaign is that customers lose a lot of time going to the ATM to withdraw cash. The cards can also be tapped on a POS machine and make payment without necessarily being inserted into it. Hannington Namara, the Managing Director of Equity Bank Rwanda, explained that USD-Visa Gold Debit Card is the first of its kind on the Rwandan market and targets to provide convenience to the bank’s customers, who are looking to make online or in-store transactions in the USD currency. He said that the card will enable the Bank’s customers to carry out transactions in USD currency for free. Those to use the USD card will have an account linked to it. Equity Bank Rwanda will soon issue Prepaid Visa Cards to its customers and they include Equity Bank Visa Infinite Card, a premium card that gives cardholders free travel insurance that covers the spouse and children plus unlimited access to more than 800 airport lounges all over the world. “We are excited to launch this promotion that has been designed to create awareness about the different types of cards as well as the different benefits that customers get when they choose Equity Bank Visa Cards,” Namara said, “This promotion will go a step further and reward those who use their cards to make payments both online and in the store.” The campaign will educate customers about each type of card, the different outlets or locations that accept Equity Visa Cards whether it is online, in the store locally or abroad when they have travelled, he added. Equity Bank’s Director Commercial, Jean Claude Gaga, says that the cards offer an affordable and secure solution to the customer and will go a long way in providing the much-needed convenience and freedom. “Our promise is to continue to give Rwandans more convenience, comfort, and control of their financial needs, by saving time and costs while carrying out transactions especially as we continue to observe safe health measures against covid-19,” he said. Salma Ingabire, Country Director for Visa in Rwanda said, “We are delighted to partner with Equity bank on this timely campaign to enhance the adoption of digital payments as well as inspire and inform merchants and consumers on the benefits and effectiveness of using Visa cards.” She said that VISA operates in over 200 countries worldwide and has over five billion cards in the payment network working over 15,000 banks. “We have data centres with technology that makes payment secure,” she said. Equity Bank Rwanda began its operations in 2011 and is registered as a commercial bank by the National Bank of Rwanda. The Bank has a foot-print of 15 branches and is supported by 2800 agents, 1224 merchants and a network of 21 ATMs.
