RNIB improves fundraising efficiency with BANK WIZARD

The introduction of bank data validation software has facilitated the launch of Paperless Direct Debit, enabling supporters to set up Direct Debits for donations by telephone and via the internet. Over the coming months RNIB is looking to quadruple the number of committed donors using Direct Debit to support the charity. In August 2003, RNIB began to encourage supporters to give donations by Direct Debit. It was envisaged that this payment method would drastically reduce the amount of time spent administering donations and the costs associated with this. However, given the number of incorrect bank details provided by supporters, the donations processing team has spent considerable time and effort manually checking bank details using a paper based sort code directory which itself was often out of date and inaccurate. Westwood Forster, supplier of RNIBs donor management software, Visual Alms, recommended BANK WIZARD to RNIB. Following implementation of the software the speed of verifying bank account details has greatly improved, the error rate has reduced significantly and BANK WIZARD has supported RNIB in their migration to AUDDIS ? the Automated Direct Debit Instruction Service. AUDDIS allows Direct Debit Instructions (DDIs) to be electronically transferred between Originators and paying banks, thereby supporting the introduction of Paperless Direct Debit via the telephone and the charitys website, www.rnib.org.uk. BANK WIZARD is currently used by the External Relations division to check bank details for both Direct Debit and Standing Order transactions. Weekly updates from the Data team at Eiger Systems ensure that the BANK WIZARD database is maintained with the latest available bank and account data.