Stanbic Bank Uganda has provided 1000 prepaid cards to organisations and health partners to facilitate cashless payments to frontline staff and other essential workers. This is another of the bank’s contribution to the fight against the covid-19 spread by eliminating the usage of cash which can be one way of transmitting the virus.
The cards are issued to the supporting organisations including Plan international, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Infectious Disease institute (IDI), Infectious Disease Research collaboration (IDRC), and African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD).
Stanbic Bank Uganda Head of Personal Markets, Mr. Israel Arinaitwe, while speaking during the handover ceremony at Plan International head offices said, as a bank they are committed to the growth and development of Uganda. And it’s in the same spirit that they are supporting the Ministry of Health efforts with prepaid cards which they can use to facilitate their work countrywide with allowances and stipends.
“We found it prudent to donate 1000 visa prepaid cards to these organisations helping combat covid-19 to aid cash disbursements to our frontline health works and all support staff who continue to tirelessly fight the pandemic countrywide ensuring the safety of all Ugandans,” he added.
Plan International Head of programmes Mr. Greg Lavendar said, “We have a long history of good collaboration with Stanbic Bank and we’re happy with the prepaid cards they have provided to us today. These cards will go a long will way to enable our work in the field particularly our refugees response programmes.”
The cards will also help with accountability and ensure that our staff in the field receive the money on time. prepaid cards are the best means of handling cash by the general public because they are cashless and secure means of making payments by eliminating all risks associated with cash handling.
Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Head of Cards and acquisition, Mr. Paul Tamale said the prepaid cards will help these organisations to account for the funds sent out to the staff because every transaction can be tracked.
African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD) Country Programme Director; Mr. Abraham Konneh while speaking after receiving the prepaid cards said, “The prepaid cards are going to benefit our colleagues in the field and help us send their daily subsistence allowance on time. We have so far piloted the cards with 200 staff that are currently in the field. We hope to increase the number of cards to cover all our 500 staff members in the field.”
Mr. Arinaitwe said Stanbic Bank waived off card issuance fees and encouraged all customers without debit cards to obtain one at no cost to promote the safety of the Bank’s customers. This is aimed at helping our customers to replace cash that can easily transmit the virus through its hand to hand form of payment. Payments by means of visa cards are cashless, safe, secure and much more convenient,” he explained.
Stanbic Bank also instituted various safety measures to protect staff and customers and also donated to government through the Ministry of health several items including protective gear.
