Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, HNB PLC signed on as a partner to the ‘Lanka Remit’ mobile app, initiated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to encourage the use of formal channels for inward remittances.
The National Remittance Mobile Application provides Sri Lankans working overseas direct access to formal remittance channels that provide secure, convenient, and cost-effective methods to send money back home. The app supported by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was launched by Minister of Youth and Sports, Development Coordination and Monitoring, and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, Namal Rajapaksa.
“We express our gratitude to every Sri Lankan working overseas who opts to send their hard earned funds through formal banking channels to their loved ones at home. The CBSL and the Government has recognised the immense contribution of these individuals and have taken steps to recognise them through benefits such as higher exchange rates and other value added services through the recently launched app ‘Lanka Remit’.
“As a private sector bank which has an extensive 40 year history in the remittance industry we are ideally positioned to take the lead in streamlining remittances to Sri Lanka and ensuring the interests of migrant workers while offering the most convenient facilities anchored to exciting benefits. We are excited to be a part of the new app and hope this will further strengthen our commitment to strengthen formal channels of remittances,” HNB Deputy General Manager- Retail and SME Banking, Sanjay Wijemanne said.
Most recently, HNB launched the Remittance Draw scheme to bestow 10 lucky winners Rs. 100,000 each at a weekly draw, which will be continued throughout 2022. The bank’s Remittance services further offers customers convenience and security to transfer funds through the bank’s worldwide network of partners in every populated continent. HNB’s global network consists of more than 130 tie-ups with many renowned exchange houses and banks across the globe. Apart from Sri Lankan rupees, remitters can deposit funds in 13 designated foreign currencies.
Complementing its global network, the bank has deployed representative officers in strategic locations to support Sri Lankan expatriates in fulfilling their financial needs.
HNB provides several disbursement options for recipients to conveniently access foreign remittances. The bank facilitates cash pick-ups over its branch counters spread across the island and encashment through ATMs using the ‘Card-less remittance withdrawal facility’ through its own ATMs amounts to more than 780 ATMs. HNB also credits remittances to any other local bank account immediately. To ensure seamless delivery, the bank performs the processing of remittance transactions on a 24×7 basis throughout the year.
With 256 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. Consolidating its reputation for banking excellence, HNB bagged the Best Retail Bank and Best SME Bank awards in the Banking category at the International Finance Awards 2021. The bank was also ranked among the World Top 1,000 Banks list compiled by the prestigious UK-based Banker Magazine for five consecutive years. HNB was also declared Best Sub-Custodian Bank in Sri Lanka at the Global Finance Awards 2020. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.