You Can Now Open an FNB Account with a Selfie

First National Bank has launched a number of new features in its banking app, including the ability to open an account or switch your banking by taking a selfie with their new Switch Selfie feature on the FNB app.

The app which was unveiled by CEO Jacques Celliers, at a media event in Johannesburg on Wednesday sends biometric and location tracking data from the image to the Department of Home Affairs and checks the information against the user’s records to verify their identity.

Users can then use the in-app messaging system and calendar to choose the account they wish to open and select a date and time for their card to be delivered to their house.

Celliers says the service is available to South African consumers who have valid ID document and an active email address and can take less than a minute to open.

The bank also introduced FNB Pay which scans the QR codes of various vendors and mobile payment platforms to better facilitate payments through the app.

FNB says it’s working with Garmin and Fitbit to allow for tap-and-go payment through their devices which is expected to roll out in the next few months.

“The Apple Watch will not be supported at launch because it is a closed system. When Apple is ready to launch in South Africa, FNB will support the Watch.”

FNB also launched Nav Money, which includes a Track My Spend feature that allows customers to keep track of their monthly payments and transactions.

Celliers says the main objective with the enhancement of the FNB online platform is to increase the effectiveness of its app by delivering features which make customers’ lives easier.