Mastercard Archives - Page 2 of 6

September 1, 2023

Revealing into its 2nd edition, Mastercard Presents 2nd Bangladesh Fintech Award Powered by bKash Limited & in Association with Mutual Trust Bank Limited, upay, BASIS & The Daily Star honored 28 fintech innovations across 11 categories through a grand gala ceremony at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden on 26 August 2023 Saturday. Among the awardees, 14 innovations were awarded winners, and 14 innovations were given Honorable Mentions. Initiated by Bangladesh Fintech Forum, the 2nd edition of the accolade was organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum.

The award gala was graced by Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Honorable State Minister, ICT Division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as Chief guest. In his speech, the Chief Guest, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, said, “Bangladesh has been able to set some good examples regarding our progress towards building a more inclusive economy through fintech. As we have marched forward to create a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, fintech lies at the core of this vision. We must continue our efforts to spread the advantages of fintech to rural areas to ensure a Smart Economy all over Bangladesh and I believe this accolade will inspire our industry leaders to align more comprehensively with the shared goal of Bangladesh.”

This accolade aims to recognize the excellent initiatives and innovations that have taken place in the Bangladeshi fintech sector and inspire the industry to contribute to shaping Bangladesh’s Fintech Ecosystem for the Future. The event garnered enthusiastic responses and appreciation from the banking and finance sector. With over 500 people in attendance, the award ceremony showcased the innovative fintech solutions of different financial institutions.

The awards were presented in 11 distinct categories. The nomination registration for the awards took place from July 4 to August 3, 2023. A total of 123 nominations were submitted for the award. The winners were selected through a rigorous multiple-step jury process which included an initial screening of nominations, followed by in-depth reviews by 5 exclusive grand jury panels of experts from August 21 to 23. The jury sessions comprised 20 respected category experts across the banking and finance industry to bring out the best initiatives to recognise and keep the process transparent, accountable, and bias-free. The jury session included significant experts like Anis A. Khan, Chairman, AAZ & Partners; Gazi Yar Mohammed, Co-founder and CEO, Dana Fintech; Gitanka D. Datta, Deputy Managing Director & Chief Business Officer (SME & Retail), IFIC Bank Plc; Rahel Ahmed, Founder, Ogreem; Firoz Ahmed Khan, Director of Finance, Telenor Health; Hussain A Samad, Senior Researcher & Policy Analyst, iDEA Foundation; Consultant at the World Bank; Rezaul Hossain, Managing Director & CEO, Celero Limited; Sabbir Ahmed, Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking, Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Nurun Nahar Begum, Chief Technology Officer, BRAC Bank Limited; Syed Moinuddin Ahmed, Additional Managing Director And Company Secretary, Green Delta Insurance Company Limited; K A M Majedur Rahman, Group CEO, A.K. Khan & Company Ltd.; Fahim Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Pathao Ltd.; Noor Elahi, Managing Director, Wagely; Syed Adnan Huda, CFA Chief Operating Officer, UCB Stock Brokerage Limited.

Shariful Islam, Founder, Bangladesh Fintech Forum and Founder and Managing Director, Bangladesh Brand Forum began the gala night by stating, “Fintech has a lot of scope and huge potential in Bangladesh. We strive to reach that full potential and serve the nation with optimum facilities. This accolade is a testament to all our attempts to take our fintech initiatives and innovations to the next level.”

Earlier, before the award ceremony, Bangladesh Fintech Forum hosted the Mastercard Presents 4th Bangladesh Fintech Summit Powered by bKash Limited & in Association with Mutual Trust Bank Limited, upay, BASIS & The Daily Star.

the day-long summit brought together industry professionals, decision-makers, and thought leaders from the banking and finance sector at home and abroad to discuss and share insights on the profoundly emerging fintech industry in Bangladesh. This year, the Summit is designed around the core vision of “Shaping Bangladesh Fintech Ecosystem for the Future,” with the aim to explore the transformative potential of financial technology in Bangladesh and lay the groundwork for a robust and innovative fintech ecosystem.

The summit featured an engaging agenda comprising 04 Keynote Sessions, 03 Panel Discussions, 04 Insight Sessions, 01 Case Study, 01 Fireside Chat and 01 Igniting conversation. The distinguished discussions together have raised significant talking points and policy suggestions while shaping a framework for the fintech stakeholders of the country.

The discussions revolved around multifaceted and timely topics like Redefining Banking in the Digital Age, Emerging Trends and Predictions of Fintech for Paving the Path for Fintech Innovation and Growth in Bangladesh, The Role of Blockchain in Fintech, How Smart Bangladesh approach can drive Inclusive Growth for Bangladesh and others.

The keynote speakers of the summit were: Arfan Ali, Chairperson, Zaytoon Business Consultants; Chairman, Onkur Digital Limited; Benjamin Quinlan, CEO & Managing Partner, Quinlan & Associates, Chair – Innovation & Technology Committee, AustCham Hong Kong; Mamun Rashid, Country Clients and Markets Lead, PwC Bangladesh; and Hrushikesh Mehta, Senior Vice President – Financial Services, Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Bangladesh Fintech Forum initiated the 4th Bangladesh Fintech Summit and 2nd Bangladesh Fintech Award. Presented by Mastercard, Powered by bKash Limited & in Association with Mutual Trust Bank Limited, upay, BASIS & The Daily Star, The events were organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum. Strategic Partner–Aspire to Innovate (a2i), Innovation and Development Associates (iDEA) Foundation, Smart Bangladesh Network; Innovation Partner–Bangladesh Innovation Conclave; Hospitality Partner–Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden; Technology Partner – aamra Technologies Limited and PR partner – Backpage PR.

June 28, 2023

HUTCH, the pioneering mobile telecom operator in Sri Lanka, hosted the highly anticipated GAURAWABHIMANA Retailer Awards Ceremony to recognize and honor the exceptional performance of its key retail partners during the first 4 months of 2023. The district-wise top-performing retail partners spanning from all over the country were awarded gold coins for their extraordinary efforts and unwavering commitment amid a challenging environment. Whilst the event recognized top retail partners, the event also felicitated best performing HUTCH distributor partners and staff that keep their frontline retail partners going.

At the event, HUTCH also unveiled an exclusive co-branded retailer rewards card in partnership with FriMi – MasterCard for their retailer partner network. This innovative card offers a range of benefits and discounts, along with the convenience of direct deposits of incentives into the retailer’s accounts. The launch of HUTCH FriMi MasterCard is a start to a new world of benefits that HUTCH intends to extend further solidifying its commitment to supporting its retail partners and fostering their growth and success.

Thirukumar Nadarasa, Chief Executive Officer of HUTCH Sri Lanka, addressed the congregation stating, “This marks the beginning of a return to normalcy. After three years of unprecedented challenges caused by the pandemic and the economic crisis, I am delighted to celebrate with our champions who have demonstrated their exceptional performance, dedication, and resilience in sustaining our operations throughout the trying times. As the times improve, together, we have tremendous opportunities to forge ahead, capitalizing on new prospects to scale up our businesses. We look forward to continuing our support to our partners as an integral part of our growing business.”

Tharindu Wijerathne, General Manager – Sales at HUTCH Sri Lanka, also expressed his thoughts about the event, stating, “We are proud to have hosted the successful HUTCH GAURAWABHIMANA Retailer Award Ceremony, which is a testament to the exceptional relationship we have built with our retailer partners, who have been instrumental in driving our growth. It is great we are able to recognize and celebrate these outstanding contributions of sales achievements even during these difficult times. Congratulations to our retail partners, and wish all an exciting race to our season 2 that has commenced for the next 4 months ahead..”

June 23, 2023

Mastercard Announced its Collaboration with BRAC Bank Limited to Launch World Credit Card, Country’s First-ever Wellbeing Credit Card focusing on health and wellness benefits. The new card will provide an array of health and wellness, lifestyle, and travel benefits to cardholders, enabling them to access exciting offers and discounts at hundreds of partner lifestyle, dining, fashion, and travel merchants.

Users of the World Credit Card will be able to avail special health screening packages, and discounts on gym membership, along with IPD coverage of BDT 4,000 daily and OPD benefit up to BDT 3,000 a year. They will also be able to access exciting deals at thousands of lifestyles, dining, fashion, and travel merchants in Bangladesh.

Cardholders will also have the option of availing first two supplementary credit cards without the annual fee. Cardholders will be allowed to convert any retail purchases to 6-month EMI at 0% interest with Super P@yflex program. Moreover, up to 36 months 0% EMI is available at more than 900 partner merchants across the country along with reward points on e-commerce and Point of Sale (PoS) transactions.

The card comes with exciting welcome vouchers for cardholders offering discounts at travel partners, prominent lifestyle, and healthcare merchants and also Stay-1-night-Get-1-night free offer at a renowned resort. The cardholders will get multiple travel benefits, including complimentary visits for cardholders and their companions to 1,100+ international lounges using the LoungeKey Program. Cardholders will also get complimentary access to Balaka VIP Lounge at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. It will provide access for the cardholders to exciting deals and discounts at more than 6,000 partner merchant outlets in Bangladesh, along with special offers at Mastercard partner merchants in other countries.

This was Announced at an Event held on 21 June 2023 Wednesday at the Head Office BRAC Bank Limited in Dhaka.

BRAC Bank customers can apply for the Mastercard World Credit Card at any bank branch.

Selim R. F. Hussain, MD & CEO, BRAC Bank Limited, said, “I express immense gratitude to announce the launch of another exceptional product in collaboration with Mastercard. This comes after the successful introduction of the ‘Mastercard TARA World’ and ‘Mastercard Millennial Titanium’ credit cards in previous years. The newly unveiled Mastercard World Credit Card is designed to cater to the evolving lifestyle needs of valued customers, offering a wide range of health and wellness benefits and exclusive lifestyle privileges. We believe that this premium credit card, with its high-end benefits and exciting offers, will significantly enhance customers’ lifestyle experiences by providing them with the ultimate payment solution. BRAC Bank aims to forge further partnerships to continually deliver delightful customer experiences.“

Syed Mohammad Kamal, Country Manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard is delighted to collaborate with BRAC Bank Limited to launch the World Credit Card, which will be a game changer for those who expect more from their credit card. With exclusive health and wellness benefits, lifestyle discounts, and travel perks, the card will offer something exciting for everyone and will promote more seamless and secure digital transactions in Bangladesh.”

June 15, 2023

Colombo, Monday 6th Monday: Cinnamon Grand Colombo together with Chef de Cuisine at Switzerland’s Michelin-starred “La Riva”, Dominique Schrotter presented a curated dining experience at the iconic London Grill in partnership with Mastercard. The culinary maestro was in Colombo to share his expertise in French traditional cooking with a modern twist at an exclusive event that was held on the 24th, 25th and 26th of May, that featured a 5-course sit-down dinner.

Chef Schrotter grew up in an environment where food played a prominent role, with both of his parents being in the restaurant business and passing on their passion for food to him at a young age. At La Riva, which is a 1 Michelin star, 16 Gault Millau points restaurant in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Schrotter has created a loyal following who love his style of cooking influenced by cuisines of the world. Recently, Chef Schrotter was also on the culinary team for the British Summer Olympics and more recently for the British Monarch.

Commenting on the event, Area Vice President, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Colombo and General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo Kamal Munasinghe said, “Through this unique partnership with Mastercard, we are building on Cinnamon Grand Colombo’s focus on curating exclusive culinary experiences to dining enthusiasts who are craving unique dining initiatives. This Culinary Collective is one amongst many that are being scheduled and fixated on ambitious food experiences that bring dining connoisseurs together.”

The 24th and 25th May events were held in brand affiliation with Mastercard and HSBC who emphasize their connection to luxury dining as differentiating from more common dining initiatives to give their cardholders the best restaurant experiences.

Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Mastercard, Sri Lanka avers, “The dining experience was elaborate, where consumers got a chance to be a part of a unique event that embodied inspired lifestyle. Mastercard endeavours to create meaningful connections with consumers by tapping into their passions while cohesively working with multiple partners within the ecosystem and delivering the best value to Mastercard’s customers. In line with this, Mastercard in partnership with HSBC curated an exclusive experience for the affluent customers and took them through an exquisite culinary journey.”

Assisting Chef Schrotter on his visit to Colombo, were Sri-Lankan-born Marco and Dilan Wijeratne who have assisted him on various high-profile events since 2017 and have been instrumental in the connection with Sri Lanka. Chef Schrotter’s love for the island extends through support of a children’s kindergarten in Kekirawa, Sri Lanka which is dedicated to educating primary school children from underprivileged backgrounds. A fundraiser dinner was held recently in Dominique’s hometown for businesses and philanthropists to support this cause, and the proceeds went directly to the maintenance of the school and the welfare of the students.

The exclusive event at Cinnamon Grand Colombo was the first in a series of dining experiences that will highlight London Grill’s extraordinary culinary offerings. These curated dining experiences are crafted and aligned with the desire of evolved clientele to be a part of unique events that pair food and beverage. The space which is synonymous with fine dining is iconic in its ambience, service, and food offerings. Guests will have many delightful evenings of indulgence to look forward to in the coming months with culinary greats from around the world. Stay tuned!

March 2, 2023

FriMi-Mastercard-air-ticket-promo-winner-set-for-take-off-LBN.jpg

March 2023, Colombo: FriMi and Mastercard recently held an exclusive air ticket promotion which came to an end at the Mastercard Head Office in Colombo with the lucky winner FriMian, Chamath Madusanka claiming the prize of two air tickets to Singapore. Being held to mark the fifth-year anniversary of FriMi, Sri Lanka’s first fully-fledged digital banking experience powered by Nations Trust Bank, the promotion reflects the many year-round benefits offered to FriMi-Mastercard debit cards users.

February 23, 2023

Leveraging its long-standing partnership with global payment giant MasterCard, HNB PLC recently secured an exclusive opportunity to display the coveted Webb Ellis Trophy at HNB Towers.

Extending a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to the event, HNB hosted students, the bank’s top clientele together with the staff, to view the trophy in person. On its maiden visit to the island, the famed trophy was displayed to the public in Colombo and Kandy between the 18th and 22nd of February, 2023.

“Sri Lanka has a proud heritage and long history with rugby since 1879. The competitive sport is intricately woven into the fabric and spirit of our local sporting culture, going so far as to establish competitive encounters which draw past pupils and rugby enthusiasts globally to our island each year.

“Having experienced the raw enthusiasm of our rugby players over the years, we jumped at the opportunity to display the trophy at HNB Towers. Moreover, given the challenges we have faced over the past three years, we want to take every opportunity to inspire and motivate young sportspeople to celebrate the sport and its storied past,” HNB Deputy General Manager – Retail and SME Banking Sanjay Wijemanne said

The event builds on the bank’s efforts to encourage and celebrate the Sri Lankan sports fraternity by conducting various initiatives to empower national contenders at multiple games and tournaments. In addition to displaying the grand Webb Ellis Trophy, HNB previously hosted a felicitation ceremony for the Sri Lankan Paralympics Team for their win at the 2020 Paralympics Games, celebrating the fruition of the dreams of our local talent.

“We are thrilled to bring the Webb Ellis Cup to Sri Lanka, and it’s a true privilege to showcase it in a country that holds rugby in such high regard. We’re especially excited to be able to display the trophy at different locations in the country for an extended period of time, giving the public the opportunity to see the iconic trophy first hand,” MasterCard Country Manager, Sadun Hapugoda said.

Notably, HNB partnered with Classic Travels to offer rugby fans who wish to experience the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, a 24 month zero interest installment payment facility. HNB credit cardholders travelling in Economy and Business Class are also eligible for a 10% and 50% discount respectively. Moreover, Business Class travelers have access to the Silk Route Lounge, a complimentary travel insurance cover, and free visa services.

With 256 customer centres, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative private banks. Consolidating its legacy in sustainability, good governance and corporate excellence, HNB was crowned the Best Corporate Citizen for 2022 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Awards. The bank further secured four additional accolades, including being among the Top 10 Best Corporate Citizens and taking home the Governance category and Sustainability Champion for the Finance sector titles.

Similarly, HNB was ranked among the World’s Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for the sixth consecutive year in 2022, in addition to being crowned the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for the 12th occasion at the prestigious International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2022 hosted by the Asian Banker Magazine.

February 17, 2023

A series of events and activities are planned to attract sports lovers and other audiences

17^th February 2023, Colombo: Mastercard today announced that it will bring the Rugby World Cup 2023 trophy, known as the Webb Ellis Cup, to Sri Lanka for the first time on February 18. The coveted trophy will be in the country for six days till February 23, ahead of the Rugby World Cup event to be held in France later this year.

The itinerary for these six days will include two days for public display of the trophy – at CR & FC Sports Club in Colombo on February 19 and at the Kandy Sports Club on February 22. The tour also includes an event exclusively hosted by Mastercard, along with other activities, to attract sports fans and other audiences. Mastercard will be collaborating with the government and other stakeholders for these events. This historic trophy tour aligns with Mastercard Priceless, an initiative that provides one-of-a-kind experiences to Mastercard cardholders that enable them to pursue their passions and gain exclusive access to curated experiences.

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has pledged to support Mastercard in this endeavor by inviting sports teams, former rugby players, government officials and diplomats to the public events. The presence of the iconic trophy is expected to attract fans from other countries in South Asia to the island nation.

“This will be a momentous occasion not just for rugby enthusiasts but for everyone in Sri Lanka as this is the first time that the coveted Rugby World Cup trophy is being brought here. We thank the Mastercard team for securing this opportunity and are happy to partner with them for this event,” said Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka.

“Mastercard is proud to bring this trophy to Sri Lanka, where people are highly passionate about rugby. The sport unites people and gives them a reason to celebrate. The trophy tour provides an ideal platform to promote sports and tourism in the country. Mastercard is looking forward to working with key partners, including the government and other stakeholders, to make this a memorable event for everyone,” said Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard.

Mastercard’s long and successful association with the Rugby World Cup began in 2008 and includes the record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, the first in Asia. The company is poised to enhance fan experience at the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

January 30, 2023

27th January,2023, Colombo: At a Grand Draw held at Seylan Towers, recently. Seylan Cards announced the winner of its recent exclusive promotion which was open for all Seylan World Mastercard Cardholders.

The winning name of Mr. S Thillainathen was drawn via an automated system, in the presence of Representatives of Western Province Department of Revenue, leading to the loyal Seylan World Mastercard Cardholder walking away with an exquisite Omega timepiece valued at over Rs. 2 million. The winner received the prize amidst the presence of Seylan Bank Officials.

Omega is a Swiss watch brand synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision, backed by a brand history dedicated to achieving perfection. Now the proud owner of a timepiece that can be passed down for generations, Mr. Thillainathen represents the discerning tastes of all Seylan World Mastercard Cardholders.

Positioning itself as the Essential Card for Heartfelt Essentials this season, Seylan Cards ran this promotion in an effort to reward its Seylan World Mastercard Card holders, aptly timing the same as cardholders tick off their Christmas shopping lists. In order to stand a chance to win, cardholders had to spend a cumulative total of Rs. 1 million during the period running from the 25th of October to the 15th of December 2022.

As the essential card for essential needs, several merchants offer Seylan Cardholders special discounts and easy payment facilities with 0% interest. Anyone interested in obtaining a Seylan Card is encouraged to call the hotline on 011 2008 888.

November 25, 2022

25 November 2022, Colombo: Marking its most recent effort to reward its loyal customers, Seylan Cards recently announced the launch of an exclusive promotion for the benefit of all Seylan World Mastercard cardholders.

One lucky Seylan World Mastercard cardholder will receive an Omega timepiece worth over Rs. 2 million at the end of the promotion period. Founded in 1848, Omega is a Swiss watch brand synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision. Given that the brand’s history has been dedicated to a quest for perfection, such a prize is expected to appeal to the elite Seylan World Mastercard cardholders. In order to stand a chance to win, cardholders must spend a cumulative total of Rs. 1 million during the promotion period until the 15th of December 2022.

As the festive season approaches, Seylan Cards has aptly timed this promotion in an effort to reward cardholders as they complete their Christmas shopping lists. Since both local and international spends are valid for the draw, cardholders travelling overseas could purchase their air tickets and shop overseas to benefit from current exchange rates.

Cardholders are also encouraged to utilise their Seylan World Mastercard card for high value spends on items such as jewellery or even solar power installations to reach the Rs. 1 million threshold to enter the draw.

As Seylan World Mastercard cards are limited to an exclusive number of members, the chances of winning the luxury timepiece are much higher, and is a unique opportunity that should not be missed.

November 10, 2022

10th November 2022, Colombo: Mastercard today announced an agreement with Fintech Digital (Pvt) Ltd, a firm that specializes in introducing fintech innovations to the Sri Lankan banking and finance industry. As part of this agreement, Mastercard and Fintech Digital will work towards accelerating financial inclusion in Sri Lanka by improving financial literacy and building greater awareness around digital payments.

Fintech Digital will leverage its AnybanQ.lk platform to promote tools and solutions for digital onboarding of customers and merchants to formal banking channels, leading towards increased financial inclusion. It is expected that the general public will enjoy greater convenience when choosing the right financial product for them. AnybanQ.lk enables customers to research about and subscribe to products and services offered by banks in Sri Lanka.

Hithesh Fernando, CEO and founder of Fintech Digital said, “With free access to AnybanQ.lk, users will directly benefit from an easier decision-making process when choosing which banking and financial solutions they would like to utilise, based on their needs. We are also making efforts to engage with regulators, partner banks and key stakeholders to address Sri Lanka’s current foreign reserve challenge via this digital platform.”

Ashan Jayasinghe, Co-Founder of Fintech Digital said, “AnybanQ.lk is a platform that has been developed with the motives of integrating future open banking and metaverse technology adaptabilities. In addition to this, it will support environment, social and governance (ESG) paperless onboarding with many more integrable connections to make banking and finance more convenient to its users/customers. With the support of Mastercard, we believe that we could enter the global space where a positive impact can be made to the communities.”

Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard strives to drive financial inclusion by creating and supporting robust programs that improve digital skills and financial literacy across different segments of the population. Here in Sri Lanka, Mastercard is delighted to partner with Fintech Digital to bring more people into the digital economy, while also supporting the firm in its efforts to expand internationally.”

Mastercard and Fintech Digital (Pvt) will work together to provide the public with simple, secure, meaningful access and education to help people better understand digital banking related products and services.

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2nd Bangladesh Fintech Award 2023

HUTCH Honors Top Retail partners with Gold Coins. Unveils exclusive retailer rewards card with FriMi Mastercard

Mastercard and BRAC Bank Collaborate to Introduce World Credit Card, Country’s First-ever Wellbeing Credit Card

A Michelin-starred Dining Experience with Chef Dominique Schrotter at the London Grill in partnership with Mastercard

FriMi & Mastercard air ticket promo winner set for take-off

Rugby hits Colombo: HNB and MasterCard unveils Webb Ellis trophy at HNB Towers

Mastercard to bring Rugby World Cup 2023 trophy to Sri Lanka for the first time from 18-23 February

One lucky Seylan World Mastercard Cardholder wins Omega timepiece worth over Rs. 2 Mn

Seylan World Mastercard cardholders offered a chance to win Omega timepiece worth Rs. 2 million

Mastercard announces agreement with Fintech Digital to accelerate financial inclusion in Sri Lanka