KUALA LUMPUR – Public Bank Bhd has extended its PBe QR merchant acceptance service to support DuitNow QR cross-border payment between Malaysia and Thailand.
It is the first bank in Malaysia to enable the function, which facilitates retail-based QR payments between the countries and paves the way forward when the borders reopen post-pandemic, said the lender in a statement.
Managing director Tan Sri Tay Ah Lek said the bank’s immediate focus is to push for greater financial inclusion by enabling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to have more efficient and safe options to accept payments from foreign visitors when Malaysia reopens its borders.
“PBe QR, on top of existing domestic DuitNow QR payment services, will be a catalyst to this, providing a simple, cost-effective and secure solution to enable MSMEs to accept cashless payments.”
The bank is supportive of the nation’s push for the digitalisation of various banking services and the creation of a financially inclusive society, he said.
“With the increasing use of smartphones for banking, we are getting there, and will continue to deliver the most efficient and convenient payment services for our customers.”
The bank said it will keep fostering close collaboration with Payment Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd, enabling transactions to more Asean countries in the near future.
As a collective effort to push for e-payments, Public Bank is also waiving its acquiring transaction fees for DuitNow QR payments until December 31, 2022. – Bernama, September 6, 2021
