Assignment

on
Business Practices at Bkash in COVID situation

bKash has taken technological and financial preparation coordinating with the power distribution
companies to ensure customer convenience in this crisis period. Customers can easily make
payment by scanning QR code with bKash app ensuring contactless transaction in this period of
social distancing. Social distancing is of essence during this COVID 19 emergency situation and
the services incorporated by bkash has ensured the safety of it’s users in all segments. And this
lock down situation has given bkash to gain a bigger customer base and gain more loyalty from
the existing customers.

The following are a few practices that bkash has taken up during this COVID lockdown situation:

Contactless new account opening:

bKash also ensured contactless opening of accounts from bKash app's self-registration option and
at the selected digital e-registration points of the mobile financial services provider while
maintaining social distance.

To open a bKash account, they need to download the app. Then following a few simple steps and
scanning their national identity card and taking pictures of themselves, they can have their
account ready.

Those, who do not have a national identity card, can use their birth certificate to open a bKash
account as per the regulations of the Bangladesh Bank.

Payment at 7000 Pharmacies with discount:

During the Covid-19 emergency, customers can make payment through bKash for purchasing
medicines and other essentials at around 7 thousand pharmacies across the country. In addition,
they will get 5% instant cashback on bKash payment during July and August. Starting on 1st
July, the offer will be valid till 31st August 2020.

Currently bKash payment is available at around 7,000 pharmacies in all 8 divisions across the
country. More pharmacies are being brought under this service frequently.
Healthcare benefits for users:
bKash – a subsidiary of BRAC Bank, which operates within the remit of the Central Bank of
Bangladesh and works with World Remit – enables Bangladeshi migrants living abroad to send
funds to their families though its mobile digital transfer platform. Through the new offering,
customers can access healthcare benefits, including free doctor consultations and coverage of up
to US$94 per procedure, for up to three months during the Covid-19 pandemic.

RMG wage disbursement:

bKash, the country's largest mobile financial services provider, teamed up with the apparel
makers and their associated banks to help the workers open accounts and receive monthly
salaries through mobile banking. They have taken the step following the government instruction
to disburse salary and allowances of the apparel workers through mobile banking accounts
during the emergency period.

While receiving salaries through bKash, the workers will not have to pay any cash out charge.
bKash and the concerned factory will jointly bear the charges so that the workers get the full
amount of their salary, said bKash.

Contactless utility bill payment:

Utility subscribers across the country are now paying their bills, especially electricity payments,
through bkash instead of going to banks amid coronavirus outbreak.

More than 1 million electricity users availed the charge-free service after the government
announced general holiday on March 25, said the mobile financial service (MFS) provider in a
media release yesterday.

Remittance transfer through bKash:

In this worldwide 'lockdown' situation enforced for preventing COVID-19, expatriate

Bangladeshis are relying on online-to-wallet money transfer service to send remittance to their
loved ones back home. During this time of emergency, the expatriate Bangladeshis as well as
their relatives who receive remittance here are staying at home. So, without going outside, they
are sending money back home through their online or wallet-based money transfer service via
banking channel to their relatives’ bKash accounts.
As a result, the amount of remittance inflow through bKash is much more than usual during this
period. bKash is offering international remittance services via partnership with six different local
commercial banks under the strict guidance of the Central Bank.

Internet Service Bill through bkash:

During the Covid-19 pandemic, bKash has become the largest platform that enables its users to
pay internet bills of all leading Internet Service Providers (ISP) and ensure uninterrupted internet
connection. bKash users can pay any amount of internet bill 24/7 from anywhere without any
extra charge.

In the month of April and May, almost half million internet bills have been paid due to the hassle
free bill payment system of bKash. Customers can pay internet bill of 19 ISPs through Pay Bill
option in bKash app. More than 500 ISP providers’ bill can also be paid through payment
gateway (PGW) & offline payment channels.