DIGICEL and Scotiabank have partnered in Haiti to offer mobile banking services there that will enable users to perform cash withdrawals, deposits and transfers through their mobile phone.

The facility named Tcho Tcho Mobile, which was launched yesterday, will be offered to 20,000 users during the first three months, after which the programme will be expanded while an “extended range of additional mobile money services” are expected to be delivered in the future, according to a press statement issued by Digicel.

Digicel and Scotiabank received final approval for the launch of TchoTcho Mobile via a letter of non-objection from the Banque de la Republique d’Haiti (BRH), Haiti’s Central Bank, as well as approval from the Haitian telecoms regulator.

“TchoTcho Mobile has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of the Haitian people — in the same way that Digicel’s mobile services did when we launched them,” said Maarten Boute, CEO of Digicel Haiti. “With over 2.4 million customers here, Haitians have come to know and trust the Digicel brand. We are confident that Tcho Tcho Mobile will have a positive impact on the lives of the Haitian people.”

Since Digicel launced in 2006, mobile penetration increased from five per cent to 35 per cent today. This contrasts with the 10 per cent of the population that used a commercial bank prior to the earthquake that devastated the Haitia Port-au-Prince and claimed over 300,000 lives.

“We are proud to favour financial inclusion in Haiti and to work with Digicel to offer a service that will make financial transactions accessible to Haitians who are not part of the traditional banking system,” said Maxime Charles, Country Head, Scotiabank Haiti. “Scotiabank has offered a full range of banking services in Haiti since 1972, and we see this as a great opportunity to extend our reputation for safe and secure banking services to an innovative and convenient mobile money product.”

Already, the venture has taken on NGO, World Vision as a client to provide payroll service, which will see the organisation paying its 130 employees through mobile phones.

Digicel, which also operates in the Pacific Islands, launhced in July a range of mobile financial capabilities in Fiji, which lets users conduct money transfer domestically and gives them bill payment capabilities.

On Haiti, the release added: “Registration for TchoTcho Mobile is simple, requiring only one piece of valid government-issued ID. Valid IDs include a national ID card, passport or driver’s licence, as required by the central bank of Haiti. There is no cost to open an account and only a small minimum deposit of HTG100 (US$2.50) is required. In terms of transactions, there is a daily limit of HTG 20,000 (US$500) and customers will not be able to transact more than HTG10,000 (US$250) at one time.