DHAKA, April 2, 2024 (BSS) - Banglalink, the country’s innovative digital service provider, joins hands with bKash and the City Bank to offer the ‘Pay Later’ service for their joint customers to make smartphones affordable.

Under this agreement, customers will be able to avail of City Bank’s nano-loan based collateral-free Pay Later option in the bKash app to purchase smartphones from Banglalink centers and its smartphone partner brand outlets having bKash merchant accounts.

The new partnership enables customers to avail of the transition from 3G or 2G devices to a 4G smartphone, where eligible customers will receive a loan of up to Tk 30,000 at zero percent interest, provided it is repaid within 7 days, said a press release.

Besides, customers will also be able to buy smartphones in 3 to 6 months installments with 9% interest per annum. This offer, available at all Banglalink points, will assist more in adapting digital services for the customers.

Erik Aas, CEO of Banglalink, inaugurated the service at the Banglalink Center in Banglalink Head Office. Upanga Dutta, Chief Commercial Officer of Banglalink; Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer of bKash and Md. Arup Haider, Head of Retail Banking, the City Bank and other high officials were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

At the same time, they inaugurated Smartphone Fest and Pay Later Mela highlighting attractive smartphone portfolios of major device brands bundled with Banglalink Internet benefits at lucrative prices.

Banglalink customers and employees will be able to purchase smartphones from the festival using bKash 'Pay Later' service. Under the service, eligible customers will get a limit of Tk 500 to Tk 30,000 loans instantly through bKash app.

Erik Aas, Chief Executive Officer of banglalink said, “Today we have launched an important initiative in the nation building of Bangladesh towards digital transformation. With the simple steps in Pay Later service in bKash app, banglalink customers will find smartphone purchase very affordable.”

Upanga Dutta, Chief Commercial Officer of Banglalink said, “This service will let customers purchase their desired smartphones in easy installments. Hence, an increasing number of customers will be able to upgrade to smartphone usage and benefit from the power of Internet in their daily lives through Banglalink’s Fastest 4G Internet network across Bangladesh.”

Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer of bKash said, “Now eligible bKash customers, even sitting in the remotest part of the country can avail of this Pay Later service instantly. bKash will continue to work with banglalink and all partners to ensure digital inclusion for customers by introducing innovative products that can cater to the needs of vast customer base.”

Md. Arup Haider, Head of Retail Banking of the City Bank, said, “Today, the robust technology and framework built by bKash and the City Bank have taken banking services like loans and savings to a larger number of customers than the conventional methods.”