Bank Windhoek yesterday announced its participation in the first cohort of institutions implementing government-to-person (G2P) payments under the national instant payment programme (IPP).
The announcement followed a recent meeting with minister of finance Ericah Shafudah, Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta, deputy governor Leonie Dunn, and Bank Windhoek managing director James Chapman.
The initiative uses Instant Payments Namibia (IPN), a regulatory entity established to operationalise the national solution.
Bank Windhoek, alongside the central bank and two other participants, currently tests social grant payments on the platform to verify efficiency and security.
Chapman in a media statement says the initial roll-out involves beneficiaries who receive pensions or grants digitally and are familiar with digital channels.
This phase intends to validate end-to-end operations and ensure system stability before a national scale-up.
“The instant payment programme represents a pivotal step in strengthening Namibia’s financial ecosystem, inclusion, transparency and long-term economic resilience,” he says.
Chapman says the bank remains committed to disciplined execution and collaboration with public and private sector partners to ensure sustainability.
The engagement noted the deployment of fraud management arrangements, a national dispute management framework, and the gazetting of transaction fees as key enablers.
Shafudah in the statement describes the programme as a foundational pillar in the modernisation of the financial system.
She identifies priorities such as gaining insights into beneficiary habits and introducing incentives to support the transition from cash to digital payments.
The migration aims to enable real-time disbursements, greater transparency, and a better experience for beneficiaries.
“Digitisation must be done responsibly. By prioritising system stability, affordability and beneficiary readiness, we can ensure this national initiative delivers meaningful and sustainable value for all Namibians,” Chapman says. – Nampa
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