Business
ComBank revolutionises Lankan banking with ‘wearable banking’ via Flash Digital Account
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has scaled new heights in digital innovation, becoming the first bank in Sri Lanka to take banking to the realm of wearable technology.The Bank’s and the country’s first “wearable banking” product was achieved with the integration of access to, and select features of, the Bank’s ‘Flash’ Digital Account with Apple Watch in collaboration with Digital Payment Services Pvt Ltd.
Flash account holders who own Apple watches linked to iPhones can now check their account balances and check payment requests and bill sharing requests from the smartwatches on their wrists without reaching for their phones, the Bank said.
“We are excited about this latest innovation because it is the first step in a stimulating new journey of infinite possibilities,” Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said. “Smartwatches are no longer a gimmick of the so-called tech nerds. They are playing a growing role in enhancing convenience for a significant customer segment, which we expect to grow substantially in the years ahead. As a leader in digital banking, Commercial Bank is proud to introduce another breakthrough banking solution in the form of wearable banking.”
While the first step of this initiative focuses on enabling account balance view and accepting fund transfer requests, the Bank is already exploring the possibility of enabling additional features such as bill payments and own account transfers that will significantly enhance the functionality of wearable banking, Manatunge added.
Flash users who own Apple watches can install the Flash app to their watches via their iPhones, creating a shortcut to the app on the list of apps accessible via their watches. They can thereafter view their account balances on the watch screen and will receive pop-up notifications on their watches whenever a payment request is received by their Flash accounts.
Adjudged the ‘Digital Banking Initiative of the Year’ in Sri Lanka at the 2021 Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) awards, Commercial Bank’s Flash Digital Banking App is a comprehensive digital banking tool that provides financial services required to manage the lifestyle of a customer across aspects such as daily living and utility expenses, budgeting, saving, financing, eCommerce, environmental awareness, and investments. It enables customers to enjoy a complete suite of financial services and wealth management tools in one seamless application.
In 2020, ComBank Flash was upgraded with revolutionary features never-before-seen in the market. These included ‘Save the Environment’ – a feature which promotes an understanding of the social carbon footprint of consumption by assessing each transaction a user carries out via the app using a carbon footprint calculator that is integrated with the UN-approved Environment Impact Index for financial transactions; and the ‘Advanced Budgeting’ tab which functions as a personal financial management tool that enables tracking of spending with the detailed categorisation of expenses.
The app is equipped with a Quick Response (QR) Payment module that enables users to scan a LANKAQR code of any merchant to make payments directly from their accounts to the merchant for purchases. It is also integrated with the PickMe app QR and enables customers to add any bank account to top up Flash and make payments via the ‘JustPay’ feature. Additionally, the app is equipped with a ‘Flash Finance SPACE’ function that generates Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Home Loans, Leasing, and Education Loan requests.
Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon neutral bank, the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World and the only Sri Lankan bank to be so listed for 12 years consecutively, Commercial Bank operates a network of 268 branches and 940 automated machines in Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector and is a leader in digital innovation in the country’s Banking sector. The Bank’s overseas operations encompass Bangladesh, where the Bank operates 19 outlets; Myanmar, where it has a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw; and the Maldives, where the Bank has a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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