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  • SBP exempts service charges on payment made to PM Corona Relief Fund

    SBP exempts service charges on payment made to PM Corona Relief Fund

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has exempted services charges on donations made to Prime Minister Corona Relief Fund through payment cards.

    The SBP in a statement on Tuesday said that it previously issued a circular on August 06, 2018 on Service Charges on Donations/ Payments to Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund through Payment Cards.

    In this regard, it has been decided that the scope of the Circular would also cover Payments/Donations made to the Prime Minister’s as well as provincial governments’ Covid19 Pandemic Relief Funds.

    Accordingly, all issuing and acquiring banks in Pakistan shall not charge any service fee including Interchange Reimbursement Fee (IRF), Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), Merchant ID Fee, on boarding fee or any other fee that may be applicable on any transactions made to the said account.

    The issuing and acquiring banks/microfinance banks/payment schemes are advised to meticulously comply with these instructions.

  • SBP relaxes loan conditions for hospitals combating coronavirus

    SBP relaxes loan conditions for hospitals combating coronavirus

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday further relaxed conditions for refinance facilities for hospitals that are engaged in combating the coronavirus (COVID-19).

    The central bank in a statement said that since the outbreak of COVID‐19, the SBP has taken a number of measures to support the economy. One of the earliest measures taken by SBP was to support the hospitals, which have been at the fore front in combating the disease, by providing them a facility to meet their financial needs namely the SBP Refinance Facility to Combat COVID‐19 (RFCC) on March 17, 2020.

    Since then SBP received several suggestions by stakeholders to further improve it. Keeping in view such suggestions, SBP has provided more flexibility under RFCC to facilitate the health sector further.

    Hospitals and medical centres engaged in fight against COVID‐19 will now be allowed to avail financing against their existing equipment and purchase of refurbished equipment as well, provided the same are used in creation of special facility/isolation ward to deal with COVID‐19.

    Moreover, maximum coverage of 60 percent of civil works for setting up separate /isolation facility, has also been enhanced to 100 percent. Banks have been directed to ensure that financing extended under this facility is utilized for the intended purpose.

    It is believed that above changes would help hospitals/medical centres avail SBP’s refinance facility with much ease.

  • SBP sets up direct helpline to facilitate banking consumers

    SBP sets up direct helpline to facilitate banking consumers

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has facilitated consumers of banks by setting up direct helpline for quick disposal of complaints amid difficult situations due to coronavirus.

    In a statement issued on Monday, the central bank said it had taken additional measures to facilitate bank customers that are faced with extraordinary challenges arising out of COVID-19 situation in the country.

    They can now approach SBP through its helpline service in case their queries or complaints are not being responded by banks.

    The SBP also encourages public to use digital payment services as much as possible to help banks providing their services with minimal staff to ensure their safety.

    SBP has taken notice of phone calls to banks’ customers by fraudsters seeking personal information taking advantage of the current conditions. Following are the details of measures taken.

    To facilitate banking consumers, SBP has advised all banks to ensure that their call centers/helplines are available 24/7 for instant customer support.

    Banking consumers are encouraged to approach banks through helpline for queries or lodging complaints. In case complainants do not get an appropriate response from banks, they may approach SBP helpline at 021-111-727-273, which will remain available during office hours.

    To cater to the needs of the public for facilitation and guidance, SBP has enhanced its helpline capacity by deploying more agents at its call center.

    The general public is encouraged to take appropriate safety measures in the context of the coronavirus and use alternate delivery channels where possible.

    SBP recognizes that the employees of banks and other financial institutions are providing services amid the difficult working conditions arising due to COVID-19.

    For the protection of bank employees and customers, work place safety and to meet the operational challenges in serving the bank customers, banks have been advised to implement guidelines issued by World Health Organization, the Government of Pakistan and the Provincial Governments in letter and spirit.

    Nevertheless, bank employees and customers still facing difficulties or having concerns over arrangements may bring this to the notice of SBP.

    For this purpose, queries, concerns, complaints may be emailed to SBP at [email protected].

    SBP has time and again advised the general public through various channels of communication not to disclose or share any personal information about their bank accounts or credit/debit cards including CNIC number, debit or credit card number, passwords, PINs and one-time password (OTP), etc. on incoming phone calls or messages.

    It has been brought to the notice of SBP that fraudsters, imitating as officials of SBP, bank or any other government agency, have been attempting to seek personal information from the public on the pretext of verification of account due to emergency conditions under COVID-19 pandemic.

    It is reiterated that SBP, banks or any other agency are not collecting information from banking customers regarding their bank accounts or cards.

    The SBP never asks for any personal information directly from bank customers. The general public is, therefore, advised again not to disclose personal information on incoming calls.

    Details of any such call or message received by the public may also be reported to SBP Helpline at 021-111-727-273 or emailed at [email protected]

  • SBP allows relief package relaxations to refinance scheme borrowers

    SBP allows relief package relaxations to refinance scheme borrowers

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday allowed easy loans, as allowed under relief package, to borrowers of refinance schemes.

    In a statement issued the central bank said that it had allowed similar relaxations, as provided under the relief package, on its concessional refinance schemes.

    The SBP is continuously reviewing the challenges arising out of COVID-19 pandemic situation with particular reference to the financial sector and taking measures.

    Expanding the scope of its recently announced relief package for households and businesses, SBP has taken another major step today.

    Under various refinance schemes loans are provided with preferential terms and conditions to promote growth in priority sectors of the economy.

    Now the relaxation allowed for deferment in repayment of principal amount for one year for corporate, consumer, agriculture, SMEs and microfinance sectors, will now be available on financing of banks/ DFIs under SBP’s refinance schemes as well.

    With this deferment of principal, the complete repayment schedule/tenor of the loan will be extended by one year.

    The borrowers will, however, continue servicing their mark up during the period of principal deferment. In case borrowers are not able to service mark-up payment, banks/DFIs may reschedule/restructure the loan in such a manner that tenor of the loan can go up to one year beyond the existing maximum tenor of the respective scheme.

    Borrowers of SBP’s following refinance schemes and their Shariah alternatives would benefit from this relaxation:

    Long Term Financing Facility (LTFF)

    Financing Facility for Storage of Agricultural Produce (FFSAP)

    Refinance Facility for Modernization of SMEs

    Refinance and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs

    Refinance Scheme for Working Capital Financing of Small Enterprises and Low-End Medium Enterprises

    Small Enterprise (SE) Financing and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Special Persons

  • SBP’s official reserves fall by $804 million in a week

    SBP’s official reserves fall by $804 million in a week

    KARACHI: The official foreign exchange reserves of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) have decreased by $804 million during one week due to external debt payment.

    The SBP on Thursday said that during the week ended March 27, 2020 its reserves fell by $840 million to $11.185 billion from $11.989 billion a week ago.

    “This decline is attributed primarily to government external debt payments that amounted to $441 million and other official payments,” the SBP said.

    The total liquid foreign reserves of the country fell by $718 million to $17.387 billion on March 27, 2020 as compared with $18.105 billion a week ago.

    The reserves held by the commercial banks however increased by $86 million to $6.202 billion by week ended March 27, 2020 as compared with $6.116 billion a week ago.

  • SBP issues instructions to banks on PM corona relief fund

    SBP issues instructions to banks on PM corona relief fund

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued instructions to all commercial banks and microfinance banks regarding receiving payments under newly established PM COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund 2020.

    In a circular issued on Thursday, the central bank said that the government had notified establishment of a relief fund, namely, Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020, for providing relief and assistance to the people of Pakistan affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Fund shall accept donations / contributions both from domestic and international sources.

    The government has taken a number of steps with a view to enhance transparency in receipts into and payments out of the fund, including the following:

    Cash balance of the Fund shall be kept separate from and independent of cash balance of the general government account;

    Government shall commission separate audit reports on the receipts and payments of the Fund, including audit report by one of the local affiliates of big-four international accounting and auditing firms; and

    The Fund will be administered by the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division in consultation with the Finance Division.

    The SBP said that a bank account of the Fund has been established for public donations as per the details given below:

    Account Title: Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020

    Account No: 4162-786-786

    IBAN: PK11NBPA0002004162786786

    SWIFT code: NBPAPKKAMBR

    Bank: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)

    Branch: Main Branch, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

    The SBP said that the donors have been provided multiple options for making donation/ contribution to the Fund as described below:

    A. Overseas Donors:

    a. Wire Transfer:

    Overseas donors including overseas Pakistanis may donate to the Fund through wire transfer to the Fund account detailed above. They would simply advise their respective banks to transmit the donation amount in the Fund account by debiting their accounts. The NBP shall transmit the donations received in the Fund account to SBP on daily-basis through ‘Real Time Gross Settlement’ (RTGS) system along with name of donor, country of residence and amount of contribution in both foreign currency and PKR.

    b. E-Payment Gateway:

    Donation / contribution can also be made to the Fund account through a link available at NBP website by using debit / credit cards.

    c. Transfer through Money Service Bureaus, Money Transfer Operators and Exchange Houses:

    Overseas donors may also donate / contribute through Money Service Bureaus (MSBs), Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) (e.g. MoneyGram, Western Union) and Exchange Houses (EHs) in line with the arrangements in place for receiving home remittances. Banks receiving such remittances shall transfer the same through RTGS to the above mentioned account of the NBP every thirty minutes during the banking hours, besides providing the details of their particulars [as specified under A(a) above] to them for the purpose of maintain the register.

    B. Domestic Donors:

    a. Cash Deposits at Banks’ Counters:

    Donors and contributors may make their donations / contributions to the fund in cash at any branch of any bank operating in Pakistan, which shall transfer the amount of donations so received to NBP’s above mentioned account through RTGS after every 30 minutes during the banking hours. Similarly, donations/ contributions may also be made at any of the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation.

    b. Deposit of Crossed Cheques in the Name of the Fund in Bank’s Drop Boxes:

    The donors and contributors may make their donations / contributions to the Fund by dropping crossed cheques in the name of the Fund in their respective bank’s drop box. All banks shall make available drop box facility at their selected branches for donors where they may drop their crossed cheques in favor of the Fund. The banks shall, accordingly debit the customer’s account and transfer the proceeds through RTGS/IBFT to the Fund account at NBP.

    c. Alternate Delivery Channels:

    The donor may also use alternate delivery channels e.g. internet banking, mobile banking, automated teller machines (ATMs) and mobile wallets etc. to donate / contribute to the Fund account through Inter-Bank Fund Transfer Facility (IBFT). For this purpose, they will use the IBAN of the Fund given above.

    Note: M/s 1-link will submit on daily basis the report of all donations routed through ADCs and IBFT to NBP by giving the particulars of donors including name, bank and branch of deposit, amount of donations etc.

    d. E-Payment Gateway:

    Donation / contribution can also be made to the Fund account through a link available at NBP website by using debit / credit cards.

    NBP shall transfer all the receipts to SBP through RTGS for credit to the Fund account with SBP on daily basis.

  • Date for converting bearer prize bonds of Rs40,000 extended to June 30

    Date for converting bearer prize bonds of Rs40,000 extended to June 30

    KARACHI: People now can surrender Rs40,000 denomination bearer prize bonds by June 30, 2020 and exchange the amount with registered bonds or other given options.

    Finance Division on Tuesday issued a notification to extend the last date for encashment/redemption of Rs40,000 bearer bonds from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020.

    The SBP stopped the issuance of Rs40,000 denomination prize bonds on June 24, 2019 and given deadline of March 31, 2020 for exchange the such denomination with other registered mode of investment.

    Since the announcement of the central bank, the holders of bearer bonds had surrendered around Rs238 billion till November 2019.

    The total investment Rs40,000 denomination bearer bonds peaked at Rs258 billion by May 2019, which reduced to around Rs20 billion by November 2019.

    SBP stops banks selling Rs40,000 prize bonds, issues procedure for conversion into registered bonds

    The SBP in a notification issued in June 2019 issued the following instructions regarding handling of Rs.40,000/- denomination National Prize Bonds are issued herewith for information, guidance and meticulous compliance:

    a) National Prize Bonds of Rs.40,000/- denomination shall not be sold after June 24, 2019 and will not be encashed/redeemed after March 31, 2020.

    b) No further draws of Rs.40,000/-denomination National Prize Bonds shall be held.

    c) Cash payment for encashments of bonds is not allowed. However, the bond holder (s) shall have the following options to replace / encash these bonds:

    1. Conversion of premium prize bonds (registered)

    2. Replacement with special saving certificate (SSC)/Defence Saving Certificate (DSC)

    3. Encashment at face value.

    d) Appended below is the SOP for processing requests under the aforementioned options for compliance by all banks:

    Conversion to Premium Prize Bonds (Registered)

    i. The bonds can be converted to premium prize bonds (registered) through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, and authorized branches of six commercial banks i.e. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), United Bank Limited (UBL), MCB Bank Limited (MCB), Allied Bank Limited (ABL) and Bank Alflah Limited (BAFL).

    ii. The bond holder shall be required to submit a written request for conversion of bearer bonds to premium prize bonds (registered) to be registered in his (her) name on the prescribed application.

    iii. The bond holder shall also be required to submit prescribed applications forms for registrations / purchase of premium prize bond as per the procedure in vogue.

    Replacement with the Special Saving Certificate (SSC)/Defence Saving Certificate (DSC)

    i. The bonds can be replaced with SSC / DSC through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, authorized commercial banks and National Savings Centers.

    ii. All authorized commercial banks shall, therefore, accept requests for replacement of bearer bonds with SSC or DSC on the prescribed application form.

    iii. The bondholder shall also be required to submit application form for purchase of SSC/DSC (SC-1) as per the prescribed procedure.

    Encashment at Face Value:

    i. The bonds will only be encashed by transferring the proceeds to the bond holder’s bank account through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation as well as the authorized commercial bank branches.

    ii. All commercial banks shall receive requests for encashment of bearer bonds on the prescribed application form.

    A copy of the application form, duly signed and stamped, shall be provided to the bondholder as an acknowledgement receipt.

    The SBP said that it is needless to mention that the National Prize Bonds of Rs40,000 denomination tendered at the counters of banks shall be subject to through scrutiny to ascertain their genuineness. In this regard, details regarding the security features in Rs40,000 denomination National Prize Bonds are available online.

    Moreover, the prize bonds encashed / replaced by general public may be surrendered to concerned SBP BSC office through respective regional office of the commercial banks. For the purpose, the regional office may intimate the SBP BSC office three days in advance so that necessary arrangements for receipt of the bonds can be made.

    It is imperative to mention that a notice regarding the above / mentioned facilities must be displayed at prominent places within branch premises for awareness and information of general public.

  • SBP facilitates cheque based transactions amid COVID-19 pandemic

    SBP facilitates cheque based transactions amid COVID-19 pandemic

    KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued directives for cheque based transactions in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

    The SBP on Saturday issued a notification related to facilitation regarding paper-based clearing operations in the wake of COVID-19.

    The central bank said that to combat the potential spread of COVID-19 pandemic by limiting person-to-person interactions and to provide ease of services to the customers, Banks/MFBs are allowed to provide the following services to their customers:

    Direct Cheque Deposit Facility under which:

    a) A crossed cheque may be presented by payee/beneficiary directly into the paying/drawee bank, instead of their bank branches as per the existing practice.

    b) In this case, funds may be transferred by the paying/drawee bank either through RTGS customer fund transfer – MT102 or Over the Counter (OTC) IBFT or Bank’s internal online system (in case both payer & payee banks are the same).

    c) Before debiting their customer’s account, the paying/drawee bank must take all necessary precautions including but not limited to customer call back or multifactor authentication to verify the authenticity/genuineness of the instrument and verification of their respective customers. Similarly, before crediting the customer account, the payee/beneficiary bank must ensure the authenticity of the customer’s credentials as well.

    Doorstep Cheque Collection Facility under which Banks/MFBs may make arrangements to collect cheque from registered addresses of their customers upon their request.

    Drop box Cheque Collection Facility under which customers may drop their cheques in drop boxes of their Banks, installed in selected branches.

    Banks may allow their Corporates/Priority customers to send them the scanned image of the cheque along with relevant details of the Beneficiary either through registered emails or through mobile Apps of their banks to push funds from their accounts to the payee bank.

    However, such arrangement must be duly agreed with the customer under proper Terms & Conditions along with complete disclosure of risks and liabilities.

    The Paying/Drawee bank shall implement all necessary controls including call back confirmation or multifactor authentication to ascertain the authenticity and genuineness of the instrument and identity of the payee. Upon satisfactory validation, Paying/drawee bank may transfer funds to beneficiary bank using MT 102 of RTGS (PRISM).

    The recommended modus opernadi for options 2 to 5 is attached at Annexure-A. However, banks are encouraged to implement additional risk mitigating measures as per their internal policies while offering these services to their customers.

    Further, to minimize person-to-person interaction, Banks/MFBs may also make arrangements with the Clearing House (NIFT) for clearing their cheques through Image Based Clearing (IBC) functionality as per the agreed SOPs between NIFT and banks.

    While transferring funds through RTGS, the concerned Banks/MFBs shall ensure compliance with relevant clauses of PSD Circular No. 3 of 2018 on “Electronic Fund Transfers Regulations”.

    Further, Banks/MFBs are advised to follow all relevant laws, rules and regulations issued by SBP from time to time.

    Above mentioned measures may be made part of campaigns to create awareness in order to promote the use of clearing options as per PSD Circular No. 2 of 2020.

  • SBP issues banking timings during coronavirus lockdown

    SBP issues banking timings during coronavirus lockdown

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has notified banking times during lockdown to prevent spread of coronavirus.

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  • SBP allows 100 percent advance payment facility for medical equipment import to fight coronavirus

    SBP allows 100 percent advance payment facility for medical equipment import to fight coronavirus

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allowed import of medical equipment for treatment of coronavirus against 100 percent advance payment and open account.

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