MasterCard and EBC introduce Egypt's Mobile Payment Gateway

NBE and Etisalat launch "Flous", first ever Arabic mobile money implementation

 

Tweet: #MasterCard and EBC introduce Egypt's Mobile Payment Gateway http://bit.ly/10CkTES

 

CAIRO, Egypt, June 25, 2013/ -- MasterCard (http://www.mastercard.com), National Bank of Egypt (NBE) (http://www.nbe.com.eg/en/main.aspx) and Etisalat (http://etisalat.com.eg/etisalat/Etisalat_Portal_En/home/home.htm) today announced the launch of the mobile payment wallet in Egypt, which will bring Etisalat Egypt's subscriber base safe and convenient payment services through the power of their mobile phones. The newly introduced program is an early implementation of the Mobile Payment Solution that MasterCard and Egyptian Banks Company (EBC) (http://www.egyptianbanks.com) introduced to this 94 million mobile users market and represents the world's first ever interoprable Arabic mobile money program.

 

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/2012-mastercard-logo-ds.png

 

Video: http://youtu.be/QAGPKQTGR3w

 

Photo (EN): http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/visual_en.jpg

 

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=548 (R-L): Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard; Eng. Saeed El Hamli, CEO, Etisalat Egypt; Eng. Atef Helmy, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Amr Badawy, President of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA); Tarek Raouf, Chairman, Egyptian Banks Company; Sherif Elwy, Vice Chairman, National Bank of Egypt)

 

"Flous", which means money in Arabic, will use the Etisalat mobile network and can be deployed on any mobile phone. The first phase of this program will allow subscribers to transfer money to anyone participating in the service using their mobile phones, and to load cash on their phones or take out cash through over 100 of Etisalat's branches and 305 of NBE's branches across Egypt. This represents a new era for mobile users as the service will be the fastest, most convenient and secure money transfer channel in Egypt. The second phase of the program will allow subscribers to pay their bills through their mobile phones, top up their mobile prepaid lines, and pay for goods and services at several merchants' locations in Egypt, in addition to using it for e-commerce payments globally.

 

Commenting on this landmark announcement, Mohamed Kamel Bayoumi, Managing Director, EBC said "We have chosen MasterCard to partner with us on this transformative mobile money program to benefit from their global experience as they have successfully implemented more than 30 such programs around the world. Our objective, together with the Central Bank and the Government, is to bring financial services to the fingertips of each and every Egyptian. This collaborative initiative will allow us to achieve that."

 

"Etisalat connects people from around the world, and we have developed some of the world's most advanced networks by constantly adding value to the infrastructure. Mobile phones can be used for far more than calls and messages. In a world where smartphones and mobile browsing have become commonplace, it is only natural that mobile devices be used to conduct everyday transactions, especially with their current levels of penetration in the Egyptian market" said Eng. Saeed AlHamli, CEO, Etisalat Egypt.

 

"As the largest commercial bank in Egypt, NBE has been working with our partners for many years to ensure that Egyptians have access to the latest and most advanced payment methods. We are now reaching the threshold that will change the way consumers go about their everyday banking needs. We are pleased to announce that we are opening the doors for consumers to utilize the power of mobile payments as an alternative to traditional payment solutions to conduct faster and more convenient transactions," said Sherif Elwy; Vice Chairman, NBE.

 

"MasterCard is committed to providing the Egyptian market with payment solutions that meet the needs and expectations of all consumer segments. With 65% of the population lacking access to formal banking, the mobile phone is rapidly becoming the method of choice for making payments and managing money. MasterCard customized this solution in cooperation with EBC and in accordance with the Central Bank's mobile payment regulations, thus creating a world of opportunities for underserved communities. MasterCard congratulates both Etisalat and NBE for being the first movers in Egypt to leverage this landmark solution" said Michael Miebach, President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard.

 

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of MasterCard Worldwide.

 

 

Note to Editors

 

About EBC

 

Egyptian Banks Company for Technological Advancement, SAE, http://www.egyptianbanks.com, was founded in 1995 with a vision of spreading the electronic payments culture to reach a cashless society. EBC provides infrastructure to fulfill Egyptian banks sector requirements to serve the ultimate beneficiary, mass clients. In 2008 the Central Bank of Egypt and the Ministry of Finance acquired 54% of EBC's shares while 46% remains with the founder banks. CBE has directed EBC to assume the responsibilities of the national inter-bank payment systems in Egypt by implementing and operating the following:

-          The Debit Card Scheme and Shared Cash Networks (123).

-          The Automated Clearing House (EG-ACH).

-          The Mobile Payment Network.

 

About NBE 

 

The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) is independently ranked as the leading arranger of syndicated loans in the Middle East and North Africa — and is Egypt's largest lender to SMEs. With a market share of more than 25%, our 16,000 specialists serve 5 million clients, from individuals and startups to national giants and multinationals at 259 locations nationwide. Founded in 1898, NBE is the first commercial bank in Egypt and has led the Egyptian banking sector for 115 years, most recently with decisive actions to maintain the country's liquidity following the January 25 Revolution. The bank has a 338 -strong network of branches and outlets and more than 1520 ATM terminals. For more information, please visit http://www.nbe.com.eg.

 

About Etisalat

 

Etisalat Misr is a subsidiary of Emirati Etisalat Group. It started its operation in Egypt in 2007, and in a very short time, was able to become an important market player. It is leading the Egyptian market with its innovative products and services, and has had major milestones.

 

About MasterCard

 

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), http://www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews (https://twitter.com/#!/MasterCardNews), @MasterCardMEA (https://twitter.com/MasterCardMEA) join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog (http://newsroom.mastercard.com/blog) and subscribe (http://newsroom.mastercard.com/subscribe) for the latest news (http://newsroom.mastercard.com).

 

 

Contacts:

 

Sami Lahoud, MasterCard Middle East & Africa, sami_lahoud@mastercard.com, +971 56 216 9273

 

Ghada M. ElRayess, National Bank of Egypt, ghada.elrayess@nbe.com.eg, +20 2 2594 5000 IP 1219

 

Ahmed Kamal Aly, Etisalat Egypt, ahmed.aly@etisalat.com, +20 1 1110 04001

 

SOURCE 

MasterCard Worldwide

 

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