SBP waives charges on internet, mobile banking services

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has instructed all banks to provide minimum set of services on their Internet Banking (IB) and Mobile Banking (MB) channels.

These services will include bill payments, funds transfer/IBFT, beneficiary management, limit management, credit and debit card management, stop cheque payment etc.

To encourage the use of internet and mobile banking services by their customers, the SBP instructed that banks will not levy any activation, subscription or annual charges for using such services.

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“The digitization of the entire payment process is hindered if the customers can make payments to only those billers that are registered with their own bank. Hence, in order to facilitate the customers, the banks have been advised to make necessary arrangements to ensure that their customers can make online payments to maximum number of billers,” the central bank said.

“To promote the use of payment cards, the banks will issue debit card to all new bank account holders and customers who have not previously opted for a debit card, unless the customer opts not to receive any payment card. However, this requirement will not be applicable on customers that are not literate, Photo Account Holders and visually impaired persons.”

Also Read: SBP asks banks to waive all charges on online fund transfer

The SBP advised the banks to create a role of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) who would be responsible for steering the digitization efforts. Further, it instructed, accelerated digitization will also be part of KPIs of every CEO, which will be monitored by their board for its achievement on at least half-yearly basis.