James Wainaina, Vice President and Area Business Head, MasterCard East Africa, Mr. Edwins Mukabanah Kenya Bus Services (KBS) Managing Director and Mr. Mr. Samuel Makome, KCB Chief Business Officer and Managing Director-Kenya
KCB has partnered with Kenya Bus Services Management (KBS) to unveil a revamped KBS debit card dubbed “Abiria Card†to facilitate cashless payments for their commuter buses.
The KBS flagship card which is Mastercard enabled will also allow commuters to enjoy other banking services in KCB and customers can use it in any MasterCard branded acceptance outlets.
The partnership is in line with the Government directive to have all public service vehicles operate using cashless payment system by July 1st, 2014. It is also part of the Bank’s long-term strategy towards supporting the financial inclusion agenda with the roll out of 3 million cards in the next one month to support the seamless transition in the transport sector.
According to the KCB Chief Business Officer and Managing Director-Kenya, Mr. Samuel Makome, this partnership supports the National Payment Integration System and the Government agenda to embrace automation in all its collection points to seal revenue leakages as well as drive a cashlite system in the payment space.
“The customers will enjoy a more secure platform. This will enable the Matatu and Bus Owners to collect revenues, drive loyalty programmes as well establish a more holistic relationship that allows the Bank to provide credit facilities such as asset financing, check-off loans, over drafts among others,†Makome said.
The Abiria Card operates seamlessly through the KCB Near Field Communication (NFC) technology platform. Commuters will be able to load their cards through the KCB network. They have options to do it through the more than 7,000 KCB Mtaani agents, KCB M-Benki, the 180 KCB Branches as well as KCB ATMs region wide.
When the commuter enters the bus, they do not need to swipe their cards, they will just tap their cards on the special machine and get a receipt. There will be no extra charges for running the card. Customers will also be able to monitor their balances through their mobile phones.
The Managing Director of Kenya Bus Services (KBS) Management, Mr. Edwin Mukabhana said that the formalization of the sector will also enable the public service vehicles employees’ to enjoy national social amenities such as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to boost their employee-benefits.
Card readers have already been installed in 260 buses ready to serve commuters.