Rawbank Selects SBS Digital Banking Suite for DRC Apps

In Short

Rawbank has chosen the SBS Digital Banking Suite to expand its digital banking services in Central Africa.

What Happened

Rawbank will deploy the SBS Digital Banking Suite as part of its broader digital transformation plan. Rawbank is the primary keyword in this deal, and the goal is to speed up how it ships new digital features to customers.

The bank already runs on Rawbank for its day-to-day operations, and SBS says the new suite will sit on top as the customer-facing digital layer. In simple terms, core banking is the system of record for accounts and transactions, while a digital banking suite powers the mobile app and web app people use.

SBS said the upgrade will focus on more intuitive mobile and web experiences, more self-service for customers, and shorter wait times. Key areas include online account opening and verification, also called digital onboarding, plus card and payment management.

Rawbank CIO Arvind Kumar said the platform should help the bank launch features faster and make services simpler and more accessible across the Democratic Republic of Congo. SBS executive Hassan Nasser framed it as combining a strong core system with a modern digital engagement layer tailored for today’s users.

Why It Matters

For banks in the DRC, digital onboarding matters because it reduces branch visits and paperwork. That can lower operational costs and help more people and small businesses open accounts and manage payments remotely.

For entrepreneurs and SMEs, faster digital banking can mean quicker access to payment tools, cards, and everyday account services. It also raises the bar for customer experience in a market where users increasingly compare banks to fintech apps.

For the wider Central Africa banking market, this is another sign that large incumbents are prioritising front-end modernisation. That trend often leads to more competition on reliability, app usability, and speed of product releases, not just pricing.