KCB and Visa roll out Tap to Pay Service
KCB Ban customers can now conduct contactless payment transactions using their Android smartphones and Garmin wearables, further accelerating the adoption of cashless transactions in the region.
The move follows a collaboration between KCB, VISA, and Thales, the new service—the first of its type in Kenya—allowing users to touch their Near-field communication (NFC)-enabled smartphones at any contactless payment terminal to make in-store purchases using the KCB App.
Customers must first follow instructions in their banking app to digitize their KCB Visa card as a one-time setup in order to utilize the service. The cardholder only needs to open their banking app, choose NFC payments, tap their phone at the point of sale, and enter their PIN to complete the transaction in order to tap to pay after the card credentials have been provided to a mobile device.
The solution provides customers with a simple and uncomplicated checkout experience and gives them access to all the transaction information they require to confidently complete their purchases. It is powered by Thales, a global leader in digital security. The solution makes use of Visa’s tokenization capabilities to give KCB clients a new level of convenience by removing the need for a physical wallet or card when making purchases.
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KCB Bank Ag. Director of Retail Banking Michael Kungu said: “Eliminating the need for a dedicated terminal and enabling the merchant to use their cellphone to accept card payments is revolutionary and a significant game changer within the digital payments ecosystem”.
“Through our partnership with Thales and Visa, we are looking at supporting the financial inclusion agenda and helping businesses deliver new and best-in-class contactless consumer experiences using a device they already own: a smartphone,” he added.
Country Manager, Visa Kenya, Eva Ngigi-Sarwari, said, “This milestone is also indicative of the continued investment Visa is making in safe, reliable, and seamless digital payments as part of our mission to help individuals, businesses, and economies thrive.”
The need for actors in the payments ecosystem to increase the safety and security of payment platforms and channels has arisen as a result of the growing usage of digital payments.
Nassir Ghrous, Vice President for Sales in South Europe, Middle-East and Africa Banking and Payment Services at Thales, said: “With a growing number of digital wallets for mobile payments at store and in-app, banks and eMerchants are increasingly adopting secure tokenization services to offer innovative and secured payment solutions to their customers.”
