AmBank, Digi partner to lower barriers for SMEs to adopt e-payments

By Digital News Asia August 7, 2018

Objective of this partnership is to drive growth for SMEs across different industry verticals
SMEs adopting these next generation payment terminals can future proof their business

AmBank, Digi partner to lower barriers for SMEs to adopt e-payments

AMBANK (M) Bhd continues to step up its digital strategy by opening up its merchant network to accept Digi’s vcash QR code as an additional payment service.

This ‘e-payment partnership’ with Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd takes on a two-pronged approach.

Firstly, AmBank’s merchant point-of-sale (POS) terminals will be enabled to accept vcash QR code transactions. What this means is that vcash users can pay for their transactions via Digi’s vcash mobile app. vcash users only need to scan the QR code to pay.

Secondly, Digi will be signing up small and mid-sized enterprise (SME) merchants under the Master Merchant programme with AmBank. This will translate to more merchants accepting vcash payments, while growing AmBank’s merchant base.

“This strategic tie-up with Digi complements our efforts in broadening our product offerings to existing merchants as well as new merchants, while staying relevant and competitive in the digital landscape.

“It is also part of our ongoing efforts to support Bank Negara Malaysia’s agenda to accelerate the country's migration to electronic payments (e-payments) as we move towards becoming a cashless society,” said Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, group chief executive officer, AmBank Group.

“In advancing e-wallet payment technology, we are working on more strategic partnerships to offer wider acceptance to our customers. We embrace and appreciate these technology companies by complementing their product with our service,” added Sulaiman.

“Meanwhile, we will soon be introducing e-remittance promotions for our customers to remit money to their children studying abroad at affordable fees. As part of AmBank’s digital transformation journey, we are designing and implementing numerous new solutions with our customers in mind – to make their online banking experience with us much more convenient, value-added and seamless,” he said.

Digi chief executive officer Albern Murty said, “Partnering AmBank to roll out seamless payment experiences on a smartphone via vcash and POS terminals will benefit end users with the convenience of paying with their smartphones, and offer more merchants the security of accepting e-payments.

“Our aim is to continue playing a key role in advocating and educating Malaysians on the ease and safety of going cashless by providing a simple, convenient solution – vcash – that works for everyone.”

The objective of this partnership is to drive growth for SMEs across different industry verticals, as the vcash solution works for any type of business regardless of its size.

The partnership aims to enable 10,000 terminals in the next 12 months to accept Digi’s e-payment solution.

By doing so, Digi and AmBank are able to leverage on their respective fields of expertise and iterate upon existing offerings to provide an innovation that makes sense for SMEs from both a cost and growth perspective.

Secondly, SMEs adopting these next generation payment terminals are able to future proof their business now, at no additional cost.