Bangladesh Bank has awarded 12 licenses to banks to introduce mobile banking to reach out to rural people, the governor said yesterday.

Two banks have already launched the mobile banking to take the services to the unbanked people, Atiur Rahman said at a seminar on e-payments as part of the e-Asia conference at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The central bank is promoting the bank-led model to roll out mobile banking.

“We are promoting the bank-led model as it will give the customers a lot of confidence,” said Rahman. “Confidence is important in money.”

“It does not mean the telcos will remain out of the orbit. Telcos are partners in the bank-led model,” said Rahman. The governor urged the telecom operators to form partnership with the banks.

Source: The Daily Star/ Bangladesh/ 2nd Dec 2011