Bahrain’s leading digital services provider, Batelco and leading payment solutions provider Arab Financial Services (AFS), together launched the “bWallet”, a new digital mobile wallet and payment solution.
The announcement was made yesterday, 9th January at an exclusive event held at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, in the presence of VIP guests, Batelco Board Directors, Batelco Management and AFS Board and Management. Batelco Bahrain CEO Mohamed Bubashait and AFS CEO B. Chandrasekhar, supported by officials from both Batelco and AFS officially launched the innovative service to usher in a new era of FinTech and digital evolution for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The bWallet supports Batelco and AFS’s efforts in revolutionizing the way people shop. It enhances customer’s experience through innovative ways to pay and transfer money. All mobile users, regardless of operator, can benefit from this FinTech technology, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. A simple registration process will allow them to enjoy a fast contactless and secure payment experience.
The invitees had the opportunity to learn about the new service which was demonstrated at the launch event. Over 40 leading brands, with 300 retail outlets, have already signed up to make the service available for their customers with much more set to be onboard soon.
Batelco Chairman Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa stated that the new service, in partnership with AFS, is in line with Batelco’s commitment to ensuring the best in class digital and FinTech solutions for the Kingdom’s consumers and is another step in the journey towards meeting the Kingdom’s 2030 vision.
Batelco Bahrain CEO Mohamed Bubashait added, “Batelco has continuously embedded innovation as central to its strategy with the aim of delivering a first class customer experience. This new service, which merges our core business of mobile communications with payment solutions, will be adapted as financial technology and customers’ needs continue to evolve.
AFS Chairman Sael Al Waary commented, “The launch of bWallet represents an important milestone in AFS’s strategy and is a core component in fulfilling our vision of becoming the partner of choice in facilitating payments and FinTech in the region. AFS is dedicated to investing in the development of cutting-edge FinTech infrastructure and products to provide innovative solutions for our partners and their customers. We are honored to have established this landmark partnership and wholly committed to supporting the Kingdom of Bahrain in realizing its vision of becoming a cashless society.”
Arab Financial Services CEO B Chandrasekhar commented, “We are pleased to partner with Batelco to introduce the latest in mobile payment solutions in Bahrain. bWallet will have unique features including dynamic QR and contactless payment methods and wallet-to-wallet transfers.”
As a special introductory offer, the first 10,000 customers of bWallet will receive BD 3 sign-on bonus. In addition, 2% cashback will be offered on all merchant payments made through the bWallet until 31st March 2018.