Sri Lanka’s most customer friendly bank HNB PLC, partnered Micro, Medium and Small (MSME) entrepreneurs across extensive merchant partner network to launch the HNB SOLO Avurudu Pola promoting QR- based payments at eight key locations across the island.
Supporting the ‘Rata Purama LANKAQR’ campaign by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to create a cashless payment eco-system, HNB offered exclusive discounts at trade fairs for the users of its digital payment wallet SOLO,
Over450+ merchants showcased their products from vegetables and fruits to ayurvedic products, flowers, handcrafts, electronic appliances, traditional sweet meats and brass products at Nugegoda, Kottawa, Negombo, Hettipola, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela and Batticaloa from April 10 to 18, with strict adherence to health guidelines.
“The SOLO Avurudu Pola goes beyond the confines of a traditional trade fair or market as it opens up a world of possibilities for HNB entrepreneurs, from strengthening their supply chains while simultaneously moving towards a cashless payment system. As a bank with a long history of working with MSMEs we are delighted to promote LANKAQR and empower these entrepreneurs to compete in an increasingly digital economy,” HNB Deputy General Manager- Retail and SME Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne said.
Launched in 2019, HNB’s flagship digital payments solution SOLO provides the convenience of digital transactions via the adaptable QR code, a more cost effective option when compared to alternative payment solutions available in the market.
Having linked LANKAQR to SOLO, HNB was among the first financial institutions driving a cashless QR-code based payment revolution that aims to make mobile phones and digital payments the standard for day-to-day transactions island-wide. Users can make payments via LANKAQR by scanning the code using SOLO. Upon completion, merchants will receive an instant SMS notification, confirming the receipt of payment.
The bank has continuously bolstered SOLO’s features and functionality while refining its user interface to make QRbased payments intuitive, easy to use, and versatile. The app can digitally store all payment instruments, including Visa, Master debit and credit cards, and any bank accounts connected to the JustPay payment ecosystem.
With 252 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. Over the recent past, the bank was ranked among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020, in addition to winning the coveted Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka Award for the 11th time at the Asian Banker Awards 2020, in recognition of its sustainable growth and continuous improvements in processes, products and services amidst a challenging macroeconomic environment.
