HBL is the first bank in Pakistan to offer “full-featured” banking through WhatsApp. The facility was created in collaboration with E.Ocean, a renowned cloud communication service provider.
In 2021, E.Ocean’s WhatsApp Business Platform made HBL’s Conversational Banking available to its clients. To use the service, HBL clients must send a message to HBL’s WhatsApp number (021-111-111-425) from the phone number on file with the bank. In addition to the existing information services, HBL’s customers will now be able to execute payments and financial activities through the “full feature” set of services. The following are examples of transactions or services:
- Funds Transfer Between Banks
- Mobile Recharge Intra-bank Funds Transfer (Prepaid & Postpaid)
- Payment of Utility Bills
- Block/Unblock a debit or credit card temporarily.
“We are excited to leverage the potential of the WhatsApp Platform to unlock value for our clients,” said Abrar Ahmed Mir, HBL’s Chief Innovation and Financial Inclusion Officer. WhatsApp, which has over 2 billion users, provides an unrivaled chance to meet instant fundamental banking demands. This is why we’ve incorporated a slew of banking services onto a platform that’s already part of our customers’ daily routines. Client centricity is key to HBL’s business model, and we feel our relationship and its outcomes reflect that dedication.”
“It is a moment of great pride for E.Ocean to assist HBL in launching the first of its kind full feature banking service for its retail customers over WhatsApp,” stated Altaf Siddiqui, Director of Products, E.Ocean. By becoming more nimble and implementing financial services into a channel millions of its customers use, HBL has been a trendsetter in delivering true on-the-go banking with a focus on ease, accessibility, and security.”