Tanzania launches new bank card which pays travelers for delayed flights, lost baggage and cancelled trips

Your flight is running late? Don’t worry, you will be paid cash for the inconvenience. 

Your trip or plane has been cancelled? 

This will also earn you even more money, in fact, the same case applies for the delayed or lost baggage. A new debit card will pay you for the trouble.

Does this sound too good to be true? Well, because it is!

Tanzania, through one of the country’s leading financial institutions, has just launched a new business debit card which will enable holders to be paid monetary compensations in case of travel mishaps.

This includes flight delays, lost baggage or cancelled trips.

The NMB Business Debit Card also throws in an extensive insurance cover as well.

Tanzania’s NMB Bank, has just introduced the travel-friendly Business Debit Card which was introduced in Arusha City.

The card was launched during a special executive network between the management of the financial institution and members of the business community in the Northern City.

The new debit card is specifically for businesses and Small and Medium Enterprises.

The benefits carried in the banking voucher seem to be more tailored for international travelers.

The card, according to the NMB Bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer, Filbert Mponzi, grants the holders over 15 percent accommodation discount at all the Intercontinental Hotel Groups (ICG) properties around the world.

With the Intercontinental Group running more than 6000 hotels around the globe, card holders should be well catered for, from this end.

“In addition, all online bookings for accommodation made through Bookings.com using the NMB Business Debit Card allow a 7 percent discount,” pointed out Mponzi.

And tickets bought from Emirates Airlines using the new card allows the holders to enjoy up to USD 200 discount, in addition to free access to all premium and VIP lounges at international airports.

The card offers travel insurance which guarantees the holders to be paid compensation of up to USD 1500 on any lost baggage during their trips.

But also, should the luggage be delayed enroute the holders will be paid up to USD 300, while also should the trip get cancelled the card assures the holder to get back USD 3000.

On the other hand, if any of the flights gets delayed, the NMB customer with such a card will be compensated to the tune of USD 300.

It also grants travel medical insurance which provides excesses of up to USD 100,000 to cover medical services and at the same time the card will allow the holder to be paid a USD 75 daily allowance while in hospital.

Again, should one get involved in an accident while travelling internationally, the card will cover the incident with over USD 50,000, all paid to the holder.

On her part, the NMB Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ruth Zaipuna stated that they have organized a gala networking dinner for the sole purpose of getting feedback about their services from the business community in Arusha.

“We are also using the same platform to introduce new bank services hatched for stimulating, growing and developing local investments and enterprises, through technological advances,” she explained.

One of the entrepreneurs that attended the event, Frank Kileo, lauded the NMB Bank for being closer to the business community and used the occasion to advise the management to explore more digital solutions in reaching out to customers.

At the moment the NMB bank has over 9 million customers attended through 240 branches, over 50,000 agents and over 751 ATMs nationwide, employing more than 3,900 staff.

The bank has assets valued at 13.7 trillion/- in assets, with market capitalization of 2.7 trillion/- in Tanzanian currency.