In a clichéd, classic case of the early bird catching the worm, Absa has just launched a dedicated Apple Watch app. That’s almost a month ahead of Standard Bank – which announced back in June that it would be doing so next month.

The Absa Apple Watch banking app was launched over the weekend. Though the bank didn’t specify what features are included in the wearable tech’s version of the app (and we can’t test it…) it’s based on the Barclay’s app from overseas. From the little we can see in the announcement video, you’ll be able to have a quick glance at your account balance. The upcoming Standard Bank app will also have a similar feature called Balance Peek.

To get started with the app, open it on your phone to setup ‘Watch Management’ before you can start using it on your Apple Watch. This is to make sure this process is as safe and secure as possible, Absa said on its Facebook page.

If you’re one of the lucky few to own an Apple Watch in South Africa (though it hasn’t officially been released yet), you can download the Absa banking app from the iTunes right now. Do tell us about your experience using the app and the features included in it.

Now, we wait to see what Standard Bank will offer and when the rest of the local banking groups FNB, Nedbank and Capitec will be following with their own versions.