…to work with any Visa, MasterCard, Amex cardholders
Over 100 new automated teller machines (ATMs) will soon be rolled out countrywide, allowing holders of cards under brands such as Visa and MasterCard a convenient way of accessing cash.
ATM’s Provided by Be! Payments
The project will be undertaken by Be Payments (Be!) – a financial technology company that was established in Guyana in June 2024 and is licenced by the Bank of Guyana as a payment service provider.
The ATMs will be placed in heavily-trafficked locations such as supermarkets, malls, gas stations, hospitals, and police stations.
Be! will be responsible for replenishing the cash in the ATMs, which will be compatible with cards belonging to international networks of Amex, Visa, MasterCard, PIX and UPI.
The company has assured that the ATM transaction fees will be affordable, in keeping with existing rates on the market.
The intention is to have these ATMs placed in every administrative region of the country.
According to the company’s Public Relations Officer Sadiya Yahya, they also intend to launch mobile ATM services via special trucks which will travel around various communities.
“We will be arranging a schedule for the different communities such as Black Bush Polder, Yakasari and other farming communities where persons with limited or no access to traditional financial services can have access through us. It’s all about financial inclusion. And yes, everyone would be adequately informed,” she explained.
As preparations unfold for these ATM’s to be available to the public Be!0 has not yet decided on ATM transaction fees however it will be no more than what is currently charged.
However, Yahya also expressed that once these services are rolled out persons will no longer have to travel far distances to use an ATM due to the fact of that one will be around at nearby points.
On that note, Yahya said that the ATM’s would be available in communities with a reasonable number of citizens in them.
Mobile ATM systems
Moreover, another ground breaking initiative which will soon be kicked off by the organization are Mobile ATM systems which would be on specialized trucks.
“We will be arranging a schedule for the different communities such as Black Bush Polder, Yakasari and other farming communities where persons with limited or no access to traditional financial services can have access through us. It’s all about financial inclusion. And yes, everyone would be adequately informed.”
Meanwhile another financial innovation that the company holds is their AI automated system, which allows persons to send messages via WhatsApp and it automatically onboards persons into their respective financial systems.
This the comant company stands out for accessibility, in which persons have the option of doing their transactions on their own time frame rather than having to work within a restricted time frame.
This allows for persons to not take time off of their busy schedules to go into any physical offices in order to join them, within a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes.
Speaking on the new innovations, manager of customer service and support with Be! Payments, Tamika Bidder revealed other key points about their organization.
“Rather than having to wait on someone, an individual person, to actually respond to you when you’re trying to onboard, we have an AI automated system which allows you to just send us a message via WhatsApp and it automatically onboards you. So rather than having to wait on someone or a specific working hour to actually reach out and apply to us, you can do that through the WhatsApp system which allows you to be onboarded automatically.”
She added that from her stand point this is very accessible as it also aids in monitoring online fraud transactions.
“AI helps in a big way in monitoring fraudulent transactions, as well as it helps with the onboarding process. AI also helps us with our mobile app, which is going to be beneficial for persons to be able to track their transactions, stuff like that.”
She added. “Be! Payments is one of these financial services systems, which is going to allow you to better yourself in the sense whereby with our AI technology, it allows you to be financially well, and enable persons to budget there selves in a more sensible timeframe, in the sense whereby they don’t have to actually note down every single thing.”
Amidst this, she relayed another innovative feature which the app utilizes enables users to track their spending efficiently.
“But from our mobile app, you’re able to track your spending, you’re able to track your income, so you don’t actually physically have to think about it, in the sense where you need to make note of your spending. But the app automatically tracks your spending, it tracks all the funds that is coming in, everything that you receive, let’s say what you deposit onto the card, and it allows you to better yourself.”
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries worldwide, local company Be! AiFA Labs is also set to host an AI Expo from Feburary 25th to 28th aimed at educating the Guyanese citizens on the power of AI-driven solutions.
