FBD Desk:

Mobile financial services are being used to get rid of the hassle of standing in line with banks. As a result, customers are able to transact at any time of the day, including weekly holidays. This is increasing the popularity of mobile banking. At the same time the transaction is also increasing.

According to the updated information of Bangladesh Bank, currently 15 banks of the country are providing mobile banking services. At the end of October, the number of registered agents stood at 10 lakh 26 thousand 7, which is 1.1 percent more than last September. The number of registered agents in that month was 10 lakh 17 thousand 55. However, the number of active account holders has decreased by 16.9 percent as compared to September. There were 332.93 crore active account holders till October and 410.35 crore in September.

In October, the transaction was 290 crore 16 thousand 423 times, where the amount of money was 53 thousand 254 crore 84 lakh. The previous month’s turnover was 49,121.25 crore rupees. As of October, the transaction has increased by 7.4 percent.

Besides, the average daily turnover in October was 93 lakh 60 thousand 756 times. Where there was one thousand 618 crore rupees. In the previous month of September, the daily transaction was one thousand 736 crore 36 lakh rupees. As of September, there were about 5 percent more transactions than in September.

In October, remittances (expatriate income) through mobile came to Tk 115.16 crore, which is 4.6 percent more than the previous month. In September last year, remittances came to Tk 110 crore 10 lakh.

Cash in and cash out increased in October as compared to September. At that time 15 thousand 8 crore 51 lakh was cash in and 14 thousand 758 crore 7 lakh was cash out. In September, the cash in was 14 thousand 623 crore 34 lakh and the cash out was 13 thousand 695 crore 69 lakh.

Person-to-person transactions increased by 11.5 percent in October. The transaction was 16 thousand 56 crore 50 lakh taka, which was 14 thousand 758 crore taka in September. From September to October, salaries decreased by 1.9 percent and utilities decreased by 5.5 percent.

Garment worker Nadia Sharmin, a resident of Rangpur, told Jago News that there is no bank within two kilometers of our village. Mobile based transactions are our only hope there. Extra money is deducted for sending money through this. Even after this, money is going to be sent from the city to the village house in a moment.

In this regard, Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, Head of Corporate Communications, Mobile Financial Services Provider, told Jago News that mobile-based transactions are becoming more and more popular in the country. There is an opportunity to transact through this every day. We are also trying to provide adequate funding to agents in grassroots areas.

He added that this time the number of active account holders has come down, who have not been shown as customers who have not transacted for three months. Later, if the transaction is regular, its percentage will increase again. Usually before Eid, at the beginning or end of the year the transactions are more.

Regarding the deduction of extra money in the transaction, Shamsuddin Haider said, “There is no deviation from the rules of Bangladesh Bank in the transaction.” According to the bank’s instructions, the service charge should be 2 percent. We keep 1.6 percent. Of which 6 per cent goes to agents and 6 per cent VAT and mobile company charges. The remaining 15 percent is held by bKash or other mobile banking companies.

“We give agents a little more commission,” he said. Because, they are coming with this service along with their business from city to village. If not, they may not be interested in providing this service. (Source:Online)