Digicel and Scotiabank Will Be First to Reach 10,000 Transactions Goal Set by the Haiti Mobile Money Initiative
TchoTcho Mobile Is Changing the Way Haitians Live and Make Transactions
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Having already achieved first-to-market status with the November 22nd launch of their innovative mobile money service, TchoTcho Mobile, Scotiabank and Digicel today achieved another important milestone.
The news comes today that Scotiabank and Digicel will be the first mobile money providers to reach the goal of 10,000 transactions as set by the Haiti Mobile Money Initiative placing them in pole position to win the cash prize associated with the launch of the product. As such, Digicel will today file its application for the grant before going through the 30 day audit process.
The Haiti Mobile Money Initiative is a partnership between USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is implemented by HIFIVE, a USAID project.
Since TchoTcho Mobile’s launch in November — just days after obtaining final regulatory approval from telecoms regulator, CONATEL, and the Central Bank of Haiti — thousands of customers have used this innovative service for transactions such as cash deposits, withdrawals and transfers to other TchoTcho Mobile subscribers and the customer feedback has been great.
Digicel Haiti CEO, Maarten Boute, comments; “TchoTcho Mobile is changing the way Haitians live and make transactions. There is massive interest in — and enthusiasm for — our product right across Haiti. We’re proud to be the first provider to achieve the goal of 10,000 transactions as set by the Haiti Mobile Money Initiative.
He continues; “Feedback from TchoTcho Mobile users is that they are very satisfied with the quality of the service and delighted with how fast, secure and user-friendly it is. As Digicel has over 2.4 million subscribers, the widest coverage with over 95% population coverage and the largest retail network in Haiti, TchoTcho Mobile will soon become an essential service to the Haitian people. We are also delighted to have partnered with Scotiabank, which, as one of the foremost banks in the world, has an impeccable track record.”
“When the TchoTcho Mobile agent approached me and explained how the product worked, I have to admit that I was a bit reticent at first. But after I read the information describing the product and its advantages, I felt more at ease and decided to register. I have since made a few transactions very securely. This product is just great. TchoTcho Mobile makes life so much easier for me,” announced Jeffrey Nicholson Carre, a very satisfied TchoTcho Mobile subscriber.
Initiatives such as payroll for manufacturing jobs and “cash-for-work” programmes — as well as community meetings in Port-au-Prince and the provinces — have made it possible for Scotiabank, the largest commercial bank in the Caribbean with over 2 million customers and Digicel, the biggest telecommunications network in Haiti, to reach the Haiti Mobile Money Initiative goal in just three weeks. This was supported by an extensive communications campaign aimed at informing Haitian consumers on the multiple advantages of the product — as well as its ease of use.
“We are very proud to offer a service that contributes to financial inclusion in Haiti and are very pleased at the results so far,” said Maxime Charles, Country Head, Scotiabank Haiti. “We look forward to the ongoing contribution of TchoTcho Mobile to the economic development of the country by providing a safe and secure banking service to people who are not part of the traditional banking system. We are very satisfied with the results.”
TchoTcho Mobile allows users to conduct banking transactions via their Digicel mobile phones and is currently available across 150 TchoTcho Mobile agents nationwide. For more information, please contact our customer care available 24/7 by dialing 202.
