New Payment Method Rolled Out
Clients of Absa Seychelles can now make point-of-sale payments without using their physical bank cards. The bank has introduced a mobile payment feature called Absa Pay, available through the Absa mobile banking app.
To use the service, customers must hold an Absa Seychelles account and access the app on a compatible mobile device. Absa confirms that among the 10 African countries where it operates, Seychelles is the third to offer this service. The bank also states that it is the first in Seychelles to provide a tap-and-pay mobile payment option.
Shift Toward Mobile-First Banking
Launching the service this week, Absa Seychelles Managing Director Nazim Mahmood said the initiative aligns with the way customers increasingly use digital tools in their daily lives. “We are taking out the physical out of cards and moving it into a mobile-first kind of lifestyle that anyone has these days,” he said.
Mr Mahmood noted that the service currently operates only on Android devices. It is not available for Apple or iOS users. “We will see how we can do that in the future,” he added.
Security Features Explained
Absa Seychelles emphasises that security remains central to the development of Absa Pay.
Retail Director Murugan Pillay explained that the bank attaches strong importance to the security and privacy of its clients.
He said that when a physical card is integrated into the app, the resulting virtual card is assigned a different number. He added that virtual cards do not carry transaction limits, although each payment requires an authentication code to reinforce security.
Launch Timed for Festive Season
The bank says the introduction of Absa Pay comes at a time of heightened spending during the festive period. Absa states that customers should have access to banking services that are fast, secure, and adaptable to their needs.
The bank adds that the service is designed to streamline everyday transactions by offering an alternative mobile method of payment.