HSBC launches debit card
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in partnership with Visa has launched a debit card for its customers in Bangladesh.
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, speaker of the parliament of Bangladesh, inaugurated the card as chief guest at InterContinental Dhaka on Friday.
The card -- HSBC Visa Debit Card -- can be used to pay with ease at merchant outlets, and to get cash out from ATMs anywhere in Bangladesh, according to a statement of the bank.
It will enable customers to transact with over 13,000 local merchants for shopping, entertainment, dining and travel. The card is also compatible with both National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) and Visa's network coverage and can be linked with foreign currency accounts for international coverage at ATMs and merchant outlets.
“As one of the largest and longest-serving foreign banks in Bangladesh, we are proud to be making strides and evolving our customer offering in the country – helping to make banking for our customers' simpler, better and faster,” said Francois de Maricourt, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh.
Maricourt said, “HSBC exists to serve the needs of the communities we have a privilege to be a part of – whether connecting them to opportunities at home or around the globe”.
Ahmed Saiful Islam, country head of retail banking of HSBC Bangladesh, said Bangladesh was one of the fastest growing economies where consumption and debit card usage could only rise.
Md Mahbub Ur Rahman, deputy CEO and country head of wholesale banking of HSBC Bangladesh; Scott Ellis, chief operation officer, international, retail banking and wealth management, HSBC Asia Pacific, and clients of banks were present.
The card launching was followed by musical performances by Rabindra Sangeet singer Aditi Mohsin and legendary classical flutists Hariprasad Chaurasia and Rakesh Chaurasia.
