Easypaisa, a branchless banking service in Pakistan, has reportedly transacted PKR 800 million (USD 9.3 million) in international remittance services between August 2010 and May 2011. This sum was sent as 30,000 transactions, mainly to and from countries located in the Middle East [1].
Easypaisa is a joint venture of Telenor Pakistan, a subsidiary of Norwegian mobile communications company Telenor, and Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited (TMFB), a microfinance bank that is controlled by Telenor. With Easypaisa, customers are able to conduct financial transactions using mobile phones or by visiting an Easypaisa shop, Telenor service center or TMFB branch. The services available through Easypaisa are mobile account management, money transfer, donations and bill payments.
Easypaisa charges no fees for its international remittance service, called International Home Transfer, which allows for the receipt of funds from money transfer agencies that offer services from approximately 90 countries.
By Nisha Koul, Research Associate
About Telenor Pakistan: Telenor Pakistan is fully owned by the Telenor Group, a communication services provider operating in 11 markets in Europe and Asia as of 2010. Telenor Pakistan began commercial operations in Pakistan on March 15, 2005. At the end of October 2010, it reported a subscriber base of 24.1 million and a market share of 24 percent. Telenor Pakistan acquired 51 percent of Tameer Microfinance Bank in November 2008. In 2009 it launched Easypaisa to offer branchless banking services across Pakistan.
About Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited (TMFB): Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited is a licensed commercial bank in Pakistan that provides microfinance services such as small business, group and emergency loans; micromortgages; microinsurance; savings; and money transfers. It was founded in 2005 and is based in Shahrah-e-Faisal, Pakistan. Telenor Pakistan, a subsidiary of the Norwegian mobile communications company Telenor, owns 51 percent of TMFB. As of 2009, TMFB reported to the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) total assets of USD 33.2 million, a gross loan portfolio of USD 18.2 million, approximately 70,600 borrowers, return on assets (ROA) of -7.13 percent and return on equity (ROE) of -16 percent.
Sources and Additional Resources:
[1] Daily Times Article, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20116\22\story_22-6-2011_pg5_6
MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY, October 27, 2009, “Communications Company Telenor Pakistan Launch Mobile Banking Service with Tameer Microfinance Bank”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapitalorg-story-communications-company-telenor-pakistan-launch-mobile-banking-service-with-tameer-microfinance-bank/
MICROCAPITAL.ORG STORY, November 24, 2008, “Another GrameenPhone? Telenor Pakistan, a Subsidiary of Telenor, the Majority Owner of GrameenPhone, Acquires 51% Stake in Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited for $12.5m”, https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-another-grameenphone-telenor-pakistan-a-subsidiary-of-telenor-the-majority-owner-of-grameenphone-acquires-51-stake-in-tameer-microfinance-bank-limited-for-125m/
MicroCapital Universe Profile: Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited, https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Tameer+Microfinance+Bank
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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