BCEL provides for easier bill payments
BCEL provides for easier bill payments
Customers of Lao Telecom-munications Company (LTC) and the Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise can now access an online bill payment system through the Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL).
The cooperation agreement was signed on Thursday by BCEL Managing Director, Mr Vankham Voravong, Managing Director of the Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise, Mr Khampheuy Vongsakhamphoui, and Director General of Lao Telecommunications Company (LTC), Mr Thongsay Xanxaya.
“It is a significant step in cooperation between the three sectors to allow customers to access modern services through the use of technology,” Mr Vankham told the gathering.
He said BCEL is already serving customers wishing to pay certain electricity, water and telephone bills through the banking system.
“For this reason, we are trying to cooperate with each other to enable our customers to pay v arious bills in an easy manner.”
He added that the cooperation is crucial in terms of stepping up infrastructure improvements in Laos as the country prepares to join the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
“Recently, BCEL has issued student identity cards which can be used as ATM cards. This is another advance for our banking service system.”
In 2011, BCEL and Electricite du Laos (EDL) reached an agreement to allow customers of EDL to pay electricity bills through ATMs.
“The great thing about paying bills via ATMs is that customers can pay at the machine and the system will automatically debit the complete amount from the bank account,” he said.
The bank also launched its latest product, ‘BCEL One'.
BCEL One will enable customers to check their account balance at the ATMs, as well as give readouts on VISA cards. Customers can also lock service on the ATM and VISA cards in the event of loss, while a whole host of other services are available.
Deputy Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Communications, Mr Thansamay Kommasith and other government o fficials witnessed the signing ceremony.
vientiane times
