Singtel will expand its VIA mobile payment alliance to include OCBC Bank, the first Singapore bank to join the alliance and the second regionally, after Thailand’s KASIKORNBANK.
By the first quarter of 2020, OCBC Bank customers will be able to go cashless when they travel to Thailand or Japan.
The parties claim that OCBC customers will be able to make QR code payments at more than 1.7 million merchant partners on VIA’s network using the OCBC Pay Anyone app. Mr Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group, said,
Arthur Lang
“We’re delighted to partner OCBC and welcome its OCBC Pay Anyone app to VIA. OCBC customers stand to enjoy the ease and familiarity of using their local app for cashless purchases when they travel, in turn boosting the customer base of our VIA merchants.”
Mr Ching Wei Hong, OCBC Bank’s Chief Operating Officer, said,
Ching Wei Hong
“This long-term partnership with Singtel is another key milestone in our journey to drive digital payments adoption among our customers, and address their digital payments needs. Customers will have the ability to travel overseas and use OCBC Pay Anyone at over 1.7 million merchants’ acceptance points, reducing their need to carry cash.
From November 2019, OCBC Bank customers in Singapore who are Singtel Dash users will also be able to top up their Dash accounts quickly and seamlessly with OCBC Pay Anyone integrated on the Dash app. Moving forward, Singtel and OCBC will also explore linking their rewards and merchant programmes.
This news comes on the back of rumors that OCBC and Singtel may be in talks to apply for a digital banking license in Singapore.
