OA20608A - Banking structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-contained banking structure, or banking kiosk, is disclosed. The banking structure has outer walls defining an interior of the structure between them. The interior has a length of less than 10 metres and a width of less than 5 metres. The structure has at least one door for entry/exit. The interior includes a client service zone and a secure zone. The client service zone includes a client service station with a computing device capable of being communicatively coupled to a banking system of a bank associated with the structure, as well as one or both of a cash holding apparatus and a bank card printer. The secure zone is separated from the client service zone by a lockable barrier and is defined by at least one reinforced internal wall of the structure. The structure further has a power system, a water storage system and/or a water collection system.

Description

Affinity Africa BANKING STRUCTURE

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a banking structure or banking kiosk. The invention also relates to a method of deploying such a banking structure.

Background to the invention

A significant gap exists in the financial services market in many developing countries. The Applicant has found that while small enterprises and individual entrepreneurs in countries in sub-Saharan Africa create employment and are important drivers of social and économie growth în these countries, a lack of access to financial services îs a serious issue in this market segment. By way of example, in Ghana, it has been found that less than 10% of businesses and individuals hâve access to formai crédit. This créâtes a stumbling block to the continued growth and sustainability of these important businesses.

The Applicant has identified a need to improve access to finance and banking services, particularly in developing countries such as Ghana. Improving access to finance involves improving both physîcal and digital channels for individuals and businesses. From a physîcal access perspective, in rural and less developed areas, it is often infeasîble to build networks of conventional bank branches, for various reasons. These reasons may include prohibitive cost, lack of infrastructure, lack of access to electricity and water, the absence of a need for a permanent structure, and many more.

The Applicant’s research has shown that there is a need for banking structures with a iow-cost physîcal footprint suitable for deployment to less developed régions, but which still provide full or near-full bank branch capabilities.

The présent invention aims to address this need, at least to some extent, thereby to assist in improvîng access to finance and banking services.

Summary ofthe invention

In accordance with the invention there is provided a self-contained banking structure comprising:

outer walls defining an interior of the banking structure between them, the interior having a length of less than 10 métrés and a width of less than 5 métrés;

at least one door for entry into and/or exit from the interior of the banking structure;

a client service zone defined in the interior of the banking structure adjacent to the door, the client service zone including a client service station with a computing device capable of being communicatively coupled to a banking System of a bank associated with the banking structure, the client service station further including one or both of a cash holding apparatus and a bank card printer;

a secure zone defined in the interior of the structure, wherein the secure zone is separated from the client service zone by a lockable barrier and is defined by at least one reinforced internai wall ofthe banking structure, the secure zone including a vault or safe; and one or more of a power System, a water storage System and a water collection System so as to supply electricity and/or water to the banking structure, in use.

Preferably, the banking structure is movable, i.e. mobile, and is configured to be deployed temporarily to a first location and subsequently moved and redeployed to a second location and to further locations, if required.

The interior of the.banking structure may further include a water closet zone. The water closet zone may include a toilet such as a composting or bio-digesting toilet.

The secure zone may be a secure room housing the vault and/or safe. The barrier may be a reinforced security door for opening and closing the secure room. The banking structure may be configured such thatthe vault cannot be opened if the barrier is open and, while the vault is open, the barrier must remain closed or locked. The banking structure may include an electronic locking mechanism effecting this feature.

The banking structure may further include at least one securîty caméra. The security caméra may be a closed-circuit télévision (CCTV) caméra connected to a monitor at or near (orforming part of) the client service station.

The client service station may be or may include a cashier or teller station.

The outer walls preferably include sidewalls, a roof and a base defining the interior between them, with the banking structure further includïng a sub-structure located below the base. The sub-structure may serve to locate the base above a g round level when the banking structure is deployed, in use. The base may be raised between about 100 mm and 600 mm off the ground, e.g. about 400 mm. This assists in cooling the structure and provides flood resilience.

At least some ofthe outer walls may be insulated, e.g. using rockwool insulation.

The water collection System may include a rainwater collection System. The water storage System may include a water tank and may be coupled to components located in the water closet zone, e.g. the toitet and a sink and tap arrangement, so as to supply water to the water closet zone.

The power System may include at least one solar panel located on the roof of the banking structure and/or at least one battery, e.g. coupled to the solar panel/s. The at least one battery, e.g. a battery bank, may be used to supply power to components in the banking structure requiring electrical power. For instance, the power System may supply power to the computing device, the bank card printer, the security caméra or caméras, the locking mechanism, etc.

In some embodiments, therefore, the banking structure may be capable of providing banking and financial service in an “off-grid” manner. Alternatively or additionally, the banking structure may be coupled to an external water source and/or external power source.

The banking structure may also be provided with an Internet connection. This may be a wired or wireless Internet connection.

The banking structure may include a plurality of external fin éléments. The fin éléments may be spaced apart along the length of the banking structure and each fin element may extend vertically along one or two sidewalls of the banking structure and/or across the roof/top of the banking structure between the sidewalls. The fin éléments may be designed and arranged so as to partially block sunlight and promote airflow in or near the banking structure. The fin éléments may also be designed so as to locate the base above the g round Ievel, as mentioned above.

The banking structure may include a security station. The security station may be positioned externally outside of the door and may be designed and positioned to provide substantially unobstructed views into the interior.

The banking structure may include a porch which includes a raised porch floor (i.e. above g round Ievel) and a porch cover so as to provide a covered entrance adjacent to the door. The security station may be located on or near the porch.

The banking structure preferably also includes seating in the client service zone.

The banking structure may further include one or more external advertising arrangement/s. The external advertising arrangement may include a frame attached to one ofthe outer walls and configured to receive advertising material (preferably in a removable manner) and at least one light adjacent to the frame for illuminating the advertising material.

The banking structure may be communicatively coupled to a remote monitoring system of or associated with the bank. The remote monitoring System may monitor the locking mechanism, e.g. in orderto be alerted when the vault is opened or closed. The remote monitoring system may be configured to transmit alerts when a predefined event occurs, e.g. the vault is opened outside of standard operating hours.

The banking structure may include a container. The container may define the outer walls ofthe banking structure. The container may be a shipping container.

The banking structure may be made from an upcycled shipping container. The outer walls may be at least partially defined by the shipping container.

Accordingly, in some embodiments the interior may hâve a length of approximately 5 to 7 métrés and a width of approximately 2 to 3 métrés. The height ofthe interior may be between about 2.2 and 3 métrés.

The invention extends to a method of deploying such a banking structure. The method may include deploying the banking structure to a first location for a period of time and then moving and redeploying the banking structure to a second location. This may assist in on-boarding banking clients and/or educating and assisting banking clients at the first location before doing the same at the second location.

Brief description ofthe drawings

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1	is a perspective view, from the front, of an embodiment of a banking structure according to the invention;
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9	is a perspective view, from the rear, ofthe banking structure; is a front view of the banking structure; is a rear view of the banking structure; is an end view ofthe banking structure; is an opposite end view ofthe banking structure; is a roof plan view ofthe banking structure; is an exemplary floor plan view for the banking structure; is a sectîonal view taken along the line A-A in Figure 7, illustrating part of a client service zone;
Figure 10	is a sectîonal view taken along the line B-B in Figure 7;

Figure 11	is a sectional view illustrating detail of parts of a base and substructure of the banking structure;
Figure 12	is a sectional view illustrating detail of parts of an outer wall of the banking structure;
Figure 13	is a cross-sectional view illustrating detail of parts of a reinforced internai wall and the sub-structure of the banking structure;
Figure 14	is a side-sectional view further illustrating the features of Figure 13;
Figures 15 & 16	are sectional views illustrating the manner in which fin éléments ofthe banking structure may be secured to its outer walls; and
Figure 17	is a sectional view illustrating an external advertising arrangement ofthe banking structure.

Detaiied description with reference to the drawings

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention, is illustrative of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limitthe scope of the invention. It will be understood that changes can be made to the embodiment/s described and depicted, while stîll attaining bénéficiai results of the présent invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that some benefits of the présent invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the présent invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the présent invention are possible and can even be désirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the présent invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for a self-contained or selfsufficient structure which can serve as a kiosk or “hub” for in-person banking. The “hub” may be used by clients as well as agents (e.g. mobile money agents) and third parties. In some embodiments the structure can easily be moved or relocated because of the self-contained nature of the design. It is envisaged that the structure may be deployed strategically to act as a banking location in areas where it is difficult to build a physical banking location. Being a self-contained unit, the structure (or at least parts thereof) can then be moved if needed to other locations that are more accessible to users thereof.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 7 which show an exemplary exterior of an embodiment of such a banking structure 10, the banking structure has outer walls which include the Steel walls of a shipping container. The outer walls include sidewalls 12, a roof 14 and a base 16 defining an interior of the structure 10 between them. The structure 10 can be regarded as an “upcycied” shipping container.

In this embodiment, the interior of the structure 10 has an internai height of approximately 2.4 m, an internai Iength of approximately 6 m and an internai width of approximately 2.2 m. These relatively small dimensions make the structure 10 easy to transport, deploy and move, if required. However, the dimensions may be varied depending on an implémentation’s requirements and the above dimensions are merely an example.

The structure 10 has a sub-structure 18, or foundation, below the base 16. The substructure 18 serves to support and secure the structure 10 and to locate the base 16 above a ground level, as is clear from Figures 3 to 6. In this example embodiment, the base 16 is raised about 400 mm off the ground. This may assist in avoiding water damage, e.g. in the case of heavy rains or flooding. This may also facilitate air flow below the base 16 and thus make the interior cooler.

The structure 10 further includes a plurality of external fin éléments 20 (in this case the fins are made from aluminium). In this embodiment, seven fin éléments 20 with rounded corners are spaced apart along the Iength of the structure 10. The fin éléments extent, to varying degrees, along the sidewalls 12 and across the roof 14 between the sidewalls 12. The fin éléments 20 project from the sides of the structure 10 and are elevated above the roof 14. In addition to the Visual appeal of the fins 20, they are designed and arranged so as to partially block sunlight and promote airflow. This may reduce heat in the interior of the structure 10.

Furthermore, the structure 10 has a porch defined by a raised porch floor 22, with a step 23 leading to the floor 22, and a porch cover 24. The porch cover 24 is a fixed métal sheet that extends horizontally above a sliding door 26. The porch accordingly provides a covered entrance to the sliding door 26.

The door 26 is the only entrance into and exit from the interior ofthe structure 10. In use, the porch floor 22 may act not only as an entrance/exit but also as a security station, e.g. a security guard may be stationed there on a dedicated chair 34 (see Figures 3, 5 and 6). The design of the structure 10 is such that this would provide substantially unobstructed views into the interior and around the outside of the structure 10. Typically, security personnel may be able to access and lock or close the structure 10 swiftly in case of a security threat or emergency. The security personnel may also be able to control a locking mechanism controlling a vault inside ofthe structure 10 (this feature is described below).

A water storage system in the form of a water tank 28 is fitted on the roof 14. In this example, the water tank 28 is a 1000 litre low profile tank. Two of the fins 20 flank the water tank 28 to provide some cover from the sun and to enhance Visual appeal. The tank 28 may be used to supply water to the structure 10 (see the description of the water closet zone 44 below).

Although not shown in the drawings, the structure 10 may also include a rainwater collection system. The structure 10 may further include a power system which may include at least one solar panel îocated on the roof 14 and at least one battery coupled to the solar panel/s. An example battery bank 82 is described with reference to Figure 8 below. Even if no solar panel is provided, the bank 82 may be charged from the external grid and last up to two days or more on a full charge. In this way, the structure 10 may supply power and water to its internai components in an “off-grid” manner. Altematively or additionally, the banking structure may be coupled to an external water source and/or external power source so that the “on-board water and power Systems merely supplément or replace the external sources as and when required.

Both ends of the structure 10 are fitted with an external advêrtising arrangement 30 that allow for marketing material or signage to be added to the structure 10 in a removable fashion. These arrangements 30 are described in greater detail with reference to Figure 17 below.

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Turning now to Figures 8 to 11 which better illustrate the interior of the structure 10, the interior has three primary zones: a client service zone 40, a secure zone 42 and a water closet zone 44.

The client service zone 40 is situated immediately adjacent to the door 26 such that a person who enters the structure 10 first enters the client service zone 40. This zone 40 has a client service station in the form of a cash ier/tel 1er desk 46. The desk 46 is fitted with a computer 48 capable of being communicatively coupled to a banking System of a bank associated with the banking structure 10, as well as a cash drawer 50 and a bank card printer 52. The computer 48 allows a bank staff member to assist clients with banking transactions, such as deposits, withdrawals, loans, account opening, enquiries, and the like. The cash drawer 50 is preferably hidden below the desk 46 and can only be opened by an authorised person.

The computer 48 has a monitor on which CCTV camera footage can be checked. The structure 10 typically has one or more CCTV caméras (not shown).

The top ofthe desk 46 is lined with a glass partition 54 which has an opening 56. Bank employée seating 58 and client seating 60 are provided on opposite sides of the desk 46. Further client seating 71 may be provided behind the seating 60 for clients that are waiting to be assisted. Additional storage compartments 62 are provided behind the desk 46. The desk 46 has a hinged portion 64 that can be swung open (in an upwardly direction) to allow persons to move between the “client side” and the “employée side” and to access the secure zone 42 and water closet zone 44 referred to in more detail below.

The client service zone 40 may further include signage 66, a ledge 68 for informational and marketing material and a further ledge 70 with storage space below it.

One or more skylight/s 32 can be fitted to the roof 14 to improve lighting in the interior of the structure 10. Lights and/or extractor fans may also be fitted to the inside of the roof 14 or a ceiling below the roof 14, as required.

Embodiments of the invention provide full card printing facilities and computing devices can be charged/powered so that the structure 10 is self-reliant, especially in rural areas. In some cases the computer used by the staff member may be a tablet or the like, to enable the staff member to work even with no power from an extemal grid. Furthermore, the desk 46 is preferably compilant with al! relevant regulatory and security requirements to allowfull banking services to be offered, while being designed to be inclusive (e.g. the employée and client are facing each other at eye level).

It should be apparent that the flow of the interior has been designed with security in mind. Accordingly, a barrier 72 in the form of a back-office door is provided between the client service zone 40 and the secure zone 42 (and also the water closet zone 44). The back-office door 72 is a reinforced door and provides a lockable barrier to enhance safety and security.

The secure zone 42 itself is essentially a secure room which includes a bank vault 74 with a safe 76. In this embodiment, the structure 10 has a specially configured electronic locking mechanism which only allows the barrier 72 to be opened if the vault 74 is closed/locked. In other words, the vault 74 cannot be opened if the barrier 72 is open and, while the vault 74 is open, the barrier must remain closed or locked. The secure room is defined by reinforced internai walls 78 as well as a reinforced internai part 80 of one of the sidewalls 12, best shown in Figure 8.

A battery bank 82 and an information technology (IT) rack 84 with IT equipment are provided between the secure zone 42 and the water closet zone 44. The battery bank 82 may be coupled to a solar panel arrangement of the structure 10. This power System may power the various éléments of the structure 10 requiring electrical power. In some cases the structure’s on-board power System may only be used when there is no access to an external electricity grid/network. The rack 84 may include IT equipment providing a suitable Internet connection so that clients can be serviced with access to the remote banking System. The rack 84 may be mounted to the ceiling just below the roof 14.

The structure 10 may be communicatively coupled to a remote monitoring System of or associated with the bank. The remote monitoring System may monitor the locking mechanism referred to above, e.g. in order to be alerted when the vault 74 is opened or closed. The remote monitoring System may be configured to transmit ale rts when a predefined event occurs, e.g. send a message to a staff member or manager when the vault 74 is opened outside of standard operating hours. The vault 74 may also be remotely locked via this System in some embodiments.

The water closet zone 44 includes a bio-digesting toilet 86 and a sink 88 with a tap. These components may receive water from the water tank 28 via suitable plumbing.

Figure 11 shows parts ofthe base 16 and sub-structure 18 ofthe banking structure 10, when fixed in the ground 90, e.g. with concrète 92. The base 16 consists of a chequered plate floor 94 with a plywood layer 96 directly below it. Hardwood battens 98 are located below the plywood 96. The sub-structure 18 has a sub-floor layer 100, a C-channel sub-structure 102 and blockwork 104 fixed to the ground 90.

Figure 12 illustrâtes the typical design of the outer walls (sidewalls 12). On the outside, the wall has a container Steel deck layer 105 from the shipping container from which it is made. On the inside, the wall has a layer of plywood 106 internally lined with plasterboard 108. A rockwool insulation layer 110 is located in the middle, with spaced apart timber battens 112 for structural integrity.

Figures 13 and 14 show an example of a reinforced wall that can be used, for instance, for the secure zone 42 and vault 74. The wall has plasterboard 114 on both sides, as well as hardwood timber battens 116 adjacent to each plasterboard layer. Centrally, vertically spaced apart cold rolled channels 118 are welded to horizontally spaced apart Steel studs 120. A steel U-track 122 is located at the bottom ofthe wall, with the U-track 122 being secured to the base 16 (floor) by way of suitable fasteners, as best shown in Figure 14.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the manner in which the fin éléments 20 of the banking structure 10 may be secured to its outer walls, using suitable Steel plates 124 and fasteners.

Finally, Figure 17 shows the external advertising arrangement 30 of the banking structure 10 in more detail. The arrangement 30 încludes a fixed frame 130 which defines a central space for receiving advertising material 132. A hinged frame 134 is secured over the advert 132 and the fixed frame 130 and the hinge frame 134 can be removed or opened to remove/replace the advertising material 132. A 90 degree angled Steel frame 136 is located above the frames 130 and 134. This frame 136 is configured to receive and shelter a lightbox 90 (the frame 136 forms a canopy over the lightbox 90 as shown in Figure 17). Each lightbox 90 încludes an array of surface mounted LED lights to illuminate the advertising material 132 (see Figure 8). The frames 130, 134, 136 and the advert 132 are secured to the outer wall ofthe structure 10 at both ends thereof (see Figures 5 and 6).

The Applicant believes that embodiments of the invention may provide numerous advantages.

The banking structure/kiosk/hub described herein may allow for a new banking system with lower cost and risk than normal banking institutes, especially for use in developing countries with less sophisticated banking Systems. The system relies on a limited physical footprint and more on a digital banking system along with these structures/kiosks/hubs which may be moved to where they are needed. For instance, the structure may be moved to a location to educate and on-board clients to a digital banking platform and then removed once adoption is at a satisfactory level.

The structure may also be used as a physical location or base for mobile bankers or agents. These hubs can act as a central location for the mobile bankers or agents to on-board users and educate them on how to use an online backing application or System on their mobile phones. Mobile bankers or agents may also perform a variety of transactions, such as cash-ins, cash-outs, loans, etc. The structure may contain ail necessary éléments needed for a bank to operate including computers, card printers, printers, storage, a vault/safe, connection to the central banking platform to access client account data, etc.

The Applicant has developed proprietary techniques and analytics to détermine how best to distribute and redistribute structures of this nature, as well as agents, within a région.

These structures may thus form part of an overall banking and financial services offering. For instance, the offering may employ three different physical channels and three different digital channels. The physical channeis may include conventîonal branches, the structures/hubs/kiosks described herein and mobile agents, while the digital channels may include a mobile application, a web application and a 10 Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel application. The structure may be communicatively coupled to the banking system that provides the digital channels.

In line with the identifiée! need for a low-cost footprint, the structures described herein 15 are preferably eco-friendly, cost-effective structures made from upcycled shipping containers. They can be used off-grid, but hâve full (or near-full) branch capabilities. A structure as shown in the drawings may typically be manned by a supervisor/manager with a number of agents, e.g. 5 to 15 agents, to drive account activation and transactions.

Claims (13)

1. A self-contained banking structure comprising:

outer walls defining an interior of the banking structure between them, the interior having a length of less than 10 métrés and a width of less than 5 métrés;

a door for entry into and/or exit from the interior of the banking structure;

a client service zone defined in the interior of the banking structure adjacent to the door, the client service zone including a client service station with a computing device capable of being communicatively cou pied to a banking System of a bank associated with the banking structure, the client service station further including one or both of a cash holding apparatus and a card printer;

a secure zone defined in the interior of the structure, wherein the secure zone is separated from the client service zone by a lockable barrier and is defined by at least one reinforced internai wall ofthe banking structure, the secure zone including a vault or safe; and one or more of a power System, a water storage System and a water collection System so as to supply electricity and/or water to the banking structure, in use.

2. The banking structure according to claim 1, which is movable and is configured to be deployed temporarily to a first location and subsequently moved and redeployed to a second location.

3. The banking structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interior of the banking structure further includes a water closet zone, the water closet zone including a composting toilet or bio-digesting toilet.

4. The banking structure according to claim 3, wherein the water storage System includes a water tank which is coupled to components located in the water closet zone so as to supply water to the water closet zone.

5. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding ciaims, wherein the secure zone is a secure room housing the vault and/or safe, the barrier being a reinforced security door for opening and closing the secure room, and wherein the banking structure has an electronic locking mechanism configured such that the vault cannot be opened if the barrier is open and, while the vault is open, the barrier must remain closed or locked.

6. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the banking structure is communicatively coupled to a remote monitoring system of the bank.

7. The banking structure according to claim 6 when dépendent on claim 5, wherein the remote monitoring system is configured to monitorthe locking mechanism.

8. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one security caméra connected to a monitor at or near the client service station.

9. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer walls include sidewalls, a roof and a base defining the interior between them, with the banking structure further including a sub-structure located below the base, the sub-structure serving to locate the base above a ground level when the banking structure is deployed, in use.

10. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power system includes one or both of a solar panel a battery.

11. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, which further includes a plurality of external fin éléments, the fin éléments being spaced apart along the banking structure and each fin element extending vertically along one or two sidewalls ofthe banking structure and/or across a top ofthe banking structure between the sidewalls, wherein the fin éléments are designed and arranged so as to partially block sunlight and/or promote airflow in or near the banking structure.

12. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, which further includes a porch having a raised porch floor and a porch cover so as to provide a covered entrance adjacent to the door.

13. The banking structure according to claim 12, which includes a security station on or near the porch, the security station being positioned externally outside of the door to provide substantially unobstructed views into the interior.

5 14. The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, which further includes one or more external advertising arrangement, the advertising arrangement having a frame attached to one of the outer walls and being configured to receive advertising material, and having at least one light adjacent to the frame for illuminating the advertising material.

15, The banking structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer walls of the banking structure are at least partially defined by a shipping container.