Tameer Micro Finance Bank, one of the first micro finance institutions in Pakistan, and Telenor, a leading telecommunications provider, have joined hands to launch Easypaisa, the bill aggregation service, through utility Bills Payment Server (UBPS), powered by TPS. Customers can now easily pay utility bills from their nearest easypaisa shop, Telenor franchise, Telenor Sales & Service Center or Tameer Microfinance Bank branch.
Tameer is the first bank to use alternate technology-based channels to reach out to the un-banked population in Pakistan. To take its motion of branchless banking to the next level, Tameer and Telenor have launched the easypaisa service; which is the largest branchless banking service in Pakistan that offers the most convenient access to financial services for all Pakistanis!
Easypaisa bill payment service brings a hassle free, yet secure solution to pay electricity, gas and telephone (PTCL) bills. With this launch, the utility bill aggregation service is now with Tameer Bank. Several utility companies already on board are PTCL, SSGC, SNGPL, KESC, ISCO, GEPCO, LESCO and HESCO with more to join soon. Currently easypaisa is starting with utility bill payments with many other products to be available soon.
UBPS, sitting at the heart of the bill payment infrastructure at Tameer Bank, is handling a large volume of transactions; whereby updating records on bill payment server as well as the utility company’s records. Within a short span of time Tameer Easy Paisa has seen exponential growth in its transaction count and value, where the total transactions as of December 2009 are 52,000 and the value of transactions over 60,000,000 and continuously growing. The popularity of Easypaisa is evident with high volume and value of transactions as this count has never been seen before in Pakistan. This has enabled the bank to benefit from a major saving in its operational cost. With UBPS, the utility companies are also benefitting from comprehensive reports showing details of the volume of transactions of various utility companies.
Besides extending the broad spectrum of remote banking services, the utility bill service at Tameer creates a firm revenue generating stream while enhancing the operational efficiency of the bank.
The UBPS service not only benefits the bank with improved customer service and reduced operational cost but also benefits the utility companies as the process of bill payments get accelerated improving the customer services, geographical reach and a centralized payment platform.
With the launch of this kind of utility bill aggregation service, people no longer have to travel long distances and wait in long queues at Post Offices or Banks or be constrained by limited working hours. Easypaisa is not just for Telenor customers rather it is available for everyone.
The relationship of TPS and Tameer Bank goes a long way with multiple e-Banking initiatives taken up and successfully rolled out, with many more services in the pipeline. TPS UBPS was selected over other world class solutions for the reliability, robustness and track record of the solution and also the relationship developed based on the successes of several e-Banking initiatives completed successfully at Tameer.
“Easy Paisa marks a new beginning to a better and more convenient payment utility bill payment service available to everyone. With this convenient payment service, it is hoped that more customers will now pay their bills promptly, without the hassle of waiting in long queues. This is a stepping stone for Tameer Bank and we have a number of initiatives underway to support the development of e-payments further.”
Said Ali Abbas Sikandar,
Group Executive Director, Tameer Bank
