ADIB launches digital service against COVID-19

By Edil Corneille

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has launched its digital booking service which enables customers to schedule their branch visits in advance. The scheduling can be done through the online banking platform of the financial institution. The remote booking service reduces the waiting time of the customer. It has an impact on crowding as the branches of the bank are provided with control over the capacity limits as per UAE social distancing guidelines in wake of COVID-19.

The service offers instant appointment bookings up to 7 days in advance, as well as a branch locator map and an SMS alerting feature which notifies customers on the status of their appointment.

Nawal Al Bayari, Head of Branch Organization & Quality management at ADIB elucidated, “ADIB continues to prioritise the health and safety of its customers and employees. The branch booking service helps enforce necessary social distancing measures at our branches and avoids scenarios of unexpected overcrowding and long waiting periods. Despite unprecedented challenges in recent months, our comprehensive digital offering has delivered an uninterrupted banking experience for customers. We encourage all customers who wish to use our branch network to book an appointment prior to their visit.”

“For customers visiting the branches, we want to assure them that we are taking all necessary measures to ensure social distancing is implemented. We have also started installing glass protection barriers at customer facing desks and tellers as an additional precautionary measure,” he added.

In recent months, ADIB has mentioned that it has recorded high levels of digital adoption across its retail and corporate banking services. Nearly 60 per cent of ADIB’s retail customers have used digital channels, registering over 2 million transactions every month as they engage in a wide range of banking activities, such as applying for cards and financing or paying bills from the comfort and convenience of their homes.

The bank has stated that it has invested heavily in the development of new digital banking and payments solutions that offer a simple and convenient experience to UAE businesses and residents over the last year. This has been led by the bank’s innovation centre – ADIB Simple Lab, which encourages close collaboration between the bank’s team and the business community including the capability to incubate, test, and implement FinTech services.