ABSA banking App is now requires data

I just learned that the banking App requires data after using it for years without data. The dataless App service was beneficial. ABSA recently canceled SMS transaction notifications to incorporate the service on an App. Their action is incosiderate, when I dont have data I have no access to whats happening on my account. According to their call centre agent it is what it is and if I continue using the app it block my account. I think it will only be fair for ABSA to retract this action and understand that their upgrade to move from sms notification comes with a package and as a client I cant bear the cost and therefore the App must not cost me to buy data from vodacom and when I bank with ABSA