Capability is powered by Masterpass, Mastercard’s digital payment service

FNB, South Africa’s best digital bank, is expanding its digital payments ecosystem by enabling consumers and sole proprietor businesses to perform and accept QR code payments using the FNB Banking App.

This makes FNB the first bank in South Africa to integrate QR code payments for both consumers and sole proprietor businesses on a banking app. The integration of QR code payments on the FNB Banking App which has 2.8 million active users helps customers with another simple choice in digital payments as there is no need to download any additional app.

Raj Makanjee, FNB Retail CEO, says “We are rapidly expanding our digital payments ecosystem by providing customers with helpful digital payments solutions. The ability to make QR code payments offers our customers convenient and secure alternatives to carrying cash. As pioneers in innovation, we are consistently developing a wider selection of customer centric solutions in digital payments, including solutions such as GeoPay and FNB Pay.”

Mike Vacy-Lyle, FNB Business CEO says, “As the leading business bank in South Africa, we continue to make significant strides in ensuring that our solutions cater for the entire business value chain, of which the ability to process convenient and safe payments is a key component. This industry-leading payment solution helps us to grow digital payments acceptance among business customers and reduces reliance on physical cash, which remains one of the biggest challenges for such businesses from a cost, security and time management perspective.”

To make payment, individual FNB customers can simply enable the new FNB App ‘Scan to Pay’ widget on their smartphones. Alternatively, they can select the Payments option on the FNB App, login and select FNB Pay, then click on ‘Scan to Pay’.

Similarly, businesses will select Payments, login and click on ‘Speedpoint’, register and begin to utilise the service within 24 hours. Businesses have the option to display the QR Code within the FNB app, email and print the QR code, or share it via social media. There are no monthly rental or maintenance costs which makes this a cost effective means for a business to accept digital payments. Those businesses that do not bank with FNB can open an account, register and start accepting QR code payments all within the FNB App.

This innovative capability is powered by Masterpass, Mastercard’s digital payment service, which is interoperable with most major domestic scan-to-pay services, representing a footprint of approximately 140,000 merchants and billers.

“We are excited to partner with FNB to further accelerate the adoption of digital payments in South Africa, using Masterpass’ existing QR code infrastructure,” says Mark Elliott, Division President, Mastercard, Southern Africa. “It furthers our goal of enabling consumers and businesses to transact anywhere, at any time or place, across any channel or device from a single app on their smartphones.”

“FNB remains committed to providing helpful digital solutions that enable consumers and businesses to make and accept payments, respectively. Over the years, the bank has remained at the forefront of digital innovation, including empowering its client service staff to help customers along its digital journey,” concludes Makanjee.