HNB pivots to digital banking to support Sri Lanka as it stays home for COVID-19

• Partners with Pick Me, Uber Eats and Wasi.lk to support home delivery
• Encourages customers to switch to mobile, e-banking, ATMs for cash transfers, bill payments
• Bolsters internal resources to support rapid increase in online transactions
• Assures 24/7 customer support via phone, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and HNB web-chat
• Strongly urges all Sri Lankans to continue complying with lockdown measures

HNB PLC announced a series of partnerships and digital innovations aimed at supporting customers and enterprises with uninterrupted access to all essential banking services during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Given the continuing and vital need for all Sri Lankans to help flatten the curve of infection, HNB encouraged all customers to make the switch to online, mobile and digital channels in order to meet all of their basic needs – including everything from checking balances to transferring funds and payment of bills.

Supporting the urgent need to enhance convenience on home delivery services, the bank partnered with Pickme, Uber Eats and Wasi.lk to ensure the delivery of daily essentials to customers’ doorstep in a convenient and safe manner. Payment for these services will be linked to HNB credit and debit cards in order to minimise the need for physical contact at the point of delivery.

Additionally, the bank also launched doorstep mobile ATM services which have facilitated 7,000+ HNB and non-HNB customers to withdraw a combined sum of over Rs. 100 million to date, in order to facilitate transactions with vendors that aren’t able to accept card or online payments. These services were initiated specifically in areas under continuous curfew including: Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttlam, Kandy and Jaffna.

Bolstering support for Sri Lankan enterprises 

Reacting to the urgent requirement for enabling small and medium enterprises, the bank also expanded the roll out of HNB MOMO and SOLO to businesses in order to provide such businesses with the ability to accept payments via card and QR code from HNB SOLO users respectively.

Similarly, the bank also expanded access to its proprietary AppiGo platform which enables merchants to establish a comprehensive and fully functional online store from scratch in just 15 minutes.

The bank also established access to the myfees.lk platform in order to enable institutes and schools to accept fees and payments online. Additionally, HNB also enabled larger corporates to reach to customers to directly sell their products by integrating Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) solution for payment acceptance.

“We wish to assure all of our customers that HNB is fully committed to supporting them through this period of unprecedented challenges. In that regard, we encourage all of our customers to switch to HNB’s online and mobile banking to manage all of their banking needs while maintaining physical distancing and helping each other to stay safe and healthy. We have also channelled additional resources to support the rapidly increasing volume of digital banking customers. Similarly, our HNB Connect customer support centre will be operating 24/7 in order to provide any required assistance to customers,” HNB Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne stated.

Meanwhile, HNB directed all customers facing difficulty in accessing online banking services, to utilise its ATM network to also make cash deposits and transfer funds, reload mobile bills and even pay utility bills.

“A strong pivot to e-banking and augmented banking services that enable customers to avoid visiting branches is a major aspect of our response, however moving forward, HNB will also explore every possible avenue to enhance convenience and accessibility for our customers, all while minimising the need for direct contact with other individuals. We also encourage all Sri Lankans to be patient, strictly comply with the directives of legal and medical authorities, and to look after their own health and well-being. Above all, stay home, and stay safe,” he added.

For more information and support, connect with HNB on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, visit www.hnb.net, or call HNB Connect on: 0112-462462.