DFCC Bank ATMs now accept internationally issued JCB Cards, following the implementation of the second phase of ATM acquiring under the National Card Scheme (NCS) program of LankaPay.
The first phase of the NCS permitted DFCC ATMs to accept locally issued LankaPay cards since 2021, enabling LankaPay cardholders to use any DFCC ATM Islandwide to withdraw cash from savings and current accounts.
As a part of this integration, JCB international cardholders can now use 216 DFCC ATMs when they travel to Sri Lanka.
CEO at DFCC Bank, Thimal Perera, said, “As we position ourselves for the impending economic recovery in Sri Lanka, which will be driven heavily by tourism, we are keenly aware of the varied and changing needs of customers, including foreign visitors to Sri Lanka.
“Thus, we are proud to accept JCB International Cards at our ATMs, making it much easier for business and leisure travellers and ex-pats to access their funds while in Sri Lanka. This will also make it even easier for foreign exchange to flow into the country.
“Adding JCB International to our acceptance portfolio further helps to diversify our service offerings in line with the needs of customers and the nation.
“We take this opportunity to recognize the exceptional efforts by LankaPay to further expand interconnectivity and acceptance networks in Sri Lanka and are pleased to lend our support to this effort,” he said.
LankaPay launched the National Card Scheme program in 2017 in partnership with JCB an International Card Scheme headquartered in Japan, a member of the EMV Co alliance. EMV is a registered trademark in the USA and other countries and an unregistered trademark elsewhere.
The EMV trademark is owned by EMVCo, LLC. As of September 2022, JCB cards have been issued in many countries and territories worldwide, including China, India, Indonesia and Thailand, with over 150 million cardholders and over 41 million merchant points worldwide.
GM and CEO, LankaPay, Channa de Silva said, “One advantage of joining this initiative is that member banks can integrate with the JCB international network at no extra cost. JCB is one of the world’s six leading International Card Schemes and payment networks.
“At a time when the country is striving to revive the tourism industry, acceptance of internationally issued JCB cards at DFCC ATMs will provide greater convenience to JCB cardholders who visit Sri Lanka, which will help the country’s tourism industry as well,” he said.