Money Services and Agent Banking: Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka
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Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report Project Number: 48190-001 August 2016 Regional: Promoting Remittance for Development Finance (Financed by the Financial Sector Development Partnership Special Fund) Prepared by Ariadne Plaitakis, Thomas Kirk Wills, and Bryan Church Mondato LLC Washington DC, USA For Asian Development Bank This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. (For project preparatory technical assistance: All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design. Consultant’s Report Project Number: TA-8725 August 2016 Digital Payment Systems, Mobile Money Services and Agent Banking: Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka Prepared by Mondato LLC Washington DC Mondato is a leading management consultancy specializing in strategic, commercial and operational support for the wider digital finance and commerce space. With an unparalleled team of dedicated professionals and a global network of industry contacts, Mondato provides high-impact, hands-on support for clients across the ecosystem, including service providers such as telcos, technology firms, banks, retailers and investors. 1 Copyright © 2016 Mondato LLC. all rights reserved The contents of this publication are protected by international copyright laws and other intellectual property rights. The owner of these rights is Mondato LLC. This publication has been prepared for the individual use of the Asian Development Bank (the “ADB”), and may not be: (a) copied or reproduced, in whole or in part, internally and/ or externally, beyond the ADB or (b) lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any way or form without the prior permission of Mondato LLC. This report was published on 25 August 2016, and Mondato and its agents have attempted to verify that all of the information contained within this report is accurate as at this publication date, but it cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein. Mondato and its employees, agents, and representatives disclaim all liability for any loss or damage howsoever caused that results from any opinion, information, error, omission or other inaccuracy contained in or affecting any part of the publication. All information is provided without warranty, and Mondato and its agents make no representation of warranty of any kind as to the accuracy or completeness of any information hereto. Access to this publication does not create any duty or responsibility on the part of Mondato or its agents towards any person who reads it and relies on its contents. Readers should therefore independently verify all information contained herein, and assume full responsibility and risk accordingly for their use of such information and content. Mondato is not a law firm and nothing in this publication constitutes legal advice. This report is not intended to create, nor does receipt of it constitute, a lawyer–client relationship. Mondato advises any reader of this publication to seek professional, independent legal advice before using any of the information contained herein. 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................. 3 Tables ................................................................................................................... 7 Figures ................................................................................................................. 7 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 8 2 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Project Background .................................................................................... 12 2.2 Objectives .................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Scope of Study .......................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Payment Systems ............................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Mobile Money Services and Agent Banking ........................................ 13 2.3.3 Regulatory ........................................................................................... 13 2.4 Sources Consulted ..................................................................................... 14 3 Background and Context .................................................................................. 16 3.1 Composition of National Payments Ecosystems ........................................ 16 3.1.1 Layer 1: Last Mile Payment Services .................................................. 16 3.1.2 Layer 2: Wholesale Payment Services ................................................ 16 3.1.3 Layer 3: Foundational Services ........................................................... 17 3.1.4 Abstraction of Payment Systems Infrastructure ................................... 18 3.1.5 Implications for Mobile Money Services and Agent Banking ................ 18 3.1.6 A Modern Payment System ................................................................. 21 3.1.7 Payment Systems Trends and Issues in the Three Countries ............. 23 3.2 Mobile Money Services and Agent Banking ............................................... 25 3.2.1 Main Evaluation Areas ........................................................................ 25 3.2.2 Market Structure.................................................................................. 26 3.2.3 Business Model ................................................................................... 27 3.2.4 Business Performance ........................................................................ 31 3.3 Regulatory ................................................................................................. 32 3 3.3.1 Regulatory framework for Mobile Money Services/ Agent Banking ...... 33 3.3.2 Capital requirements ........................................................................... 34 3.3.3 Safeguarding of funds ......................................................................... 35 3.3.4 AML/ CTF/ KYC .................................................................................. 38 3.3.5 Agents ................................................................................................. 39 3.3.6 Interoperability .................................................................................... 40 3.3.7 Telecom regulation .............................................................................. 42 3.3.8 Cross Border Transfers ....................................................................... 43 3.3.9 Other ................................................................................................... 44 4 Bangladesh ....................................................................................................... 47 4.1 Payment Systems ...................................................................................... 47 4.1.1 Digital Payments Ecosystem Bangladesh ........................................... 48 4.1.2 Trends And Issues .............................................................................. 51 4.2 Mobile Money Services and Agent Banking ............................................... 53 4.2.1 Market Structure.................................................................................. 53 4.2.2 Business Model ................................................................................... 54 4.2.3 Agent Banking ..................................................................................... 60 4.2.4 Performance ....................................................................................... 61 4.2.5 Key Challenges ................................................................................... 62 4.3 Regulatory ................................................................................................. 64 4.3.1 Regulatory Framework for Mobile Money Services/ Agent Banking..... 64 4.3.2 Capital Requirements .......................................................................... 65 4.3.3 Safeguarding of Funds ........................................................................ 65 4.3.4 AML/ CTF/ KYC .................................................................................. 66 4.3.5 Agents ................................................................................................. 67 4.3.6 Interoperability .................................................................................... 69 4.3.7 Telecom Regulation ............................................................................ 69 4.3.8 Cross Border Transfers ....................................................................... 70 4.3.9 Other ................................................................................................... 70 4 4.3.10 Legislative Reform ............................................................................ 75 5 Nepal ................................................................................................................ 78 5.1 Payment Systems ...................................................................................... 78 5.1.1 Digital Payments Ecosystem in Nepal ................................................. 79 5.1.2 Trends And Issues .............................................................................