PromptPay welfare recipients not affected by delay

The Thai Bankers’ Association said yesterday in a statement that the TBA had met with National ITMX Co, a provider of inter-bank payment systems, and the Bank of Thailand on Tuesday and all had agreed that PromptPay would be delayed from the original launch date of October 31.

The extra time is needed to ensure that all banks improve the stability of their systems so that fund transfers via PromptPay will be smooth and accurate.

However, the TBA assured registered low-income earners that they will receive their welfare payments via the system this quarter.

PromptPay is the first phase of the national e-payment platform linking Thai citizens’ mobile-phone and identity numbers to their bank accounts. 

Commercial banks have assigned personnel to inform customers of the delay in the implementation of PromptPay. Krungthai Bank instructed its staff at branches and call centres to explain the situation to customers who might ask about the postponement, said Cherdchai Chomphonukulrut, senior executive vice president.

The contest giving away a car to a lucky customer who registered for PromptPay with the bank by October 31 will not be extended. KTB might resume its campaign early next year, he said.

Phanporn Kongyingyong, first executive vice president and head of the retail segment at Siam Commercial Bank, said the bank would encourage customers who have not yet decided to register for PromptPay to do so before the end of the year.

“Even though PromptPay will be delayed, we will use this occasion to promote PromptPay to customers who are not registered yet,” she said. 

The bank will find another campaign to lure customers, since its promotion offering monthly prizes of gold to those registered with SCB PromptPay will end on October 31.

Bangkok Bank will not extend its PromptPay campaign after it closes at the end of this month. 

The TBA will hold a press conference tomorrow on the postponement of PromptPay.