National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and JCB International Co., Ltd. have inked an agreement to allow JCB payment acceptance at the bank’s POS and e-commerce merchants in Bahrain. Following NBB’s partnership with JCB, cardholders from mostly Asian markets will benefit from improved convenience as it will allow them to use their JCB Cards at any NBB merchant outlets throughout Bahrain. This collaboration is in accordance with NBB’s aim to streamline the customer experience through ease and personalization, easing clients’ daily lives, and strengthening ties with international organizations.
The partnership will provide JCB cardholders with increased access to NBB’s extensive merchant network, while also providing merchants with access to JCB’s large cardholder base. JCB cardholders will be able to use their cards at NBB’s merchant locations throughout Bahrain, including supermarkets, department stores, and other retail outlets. Additionally, NBB’s merchant network will also be able to accept JCB’s international card brands, such as JCB, UnionPay, and Discover, providing merchants with access to a wider customer base.
The partnership between NBB and JCB is the latest move in the ongoing effort to promote electronic payments in Bahrain and is in line with the Central Bank of Bahrain’s (CBB) strategy to increase the use of electronic payments in the country. The partnership will also support the CBB’s efforts to increase the number of point-of-sale terminals throughout Bahrain.
Hisham AlKurdi, Group Chief Executive – Corporate & Institutional Investment Banking at NBB, said, “We are pleased to partner with JCB to provide JCB’s cardholders with the convenience of using their JCB Cards through NBB’s banking channels. This partnership is a step forward to increase JCB Card acceptance in the Kingdom through NBB POS and Payment Gateway channels as well as strengthening cross-country relations, improving accessibility and enhancing branch capability to better reach all citizens and residents for a more enhanced service.”
The partnership between NBB and JCB will also help to promote tourism in Bahrain, as it will enable JCB cardholders from around the world to use their cards at NBB’s merchant locations, providing them with increased access to the country’s many attractions and facilities. The partnership will also help to support the growth of Bahrain’s economy by enabling more international transactions to take place in the country.
Yoshiki Kaneko, President and COO of JCB International Co., Ltd., said, “The Kingdom of Bahrain is very important for our cardholders as a travel destination, as well as for JCB as there is a local cardmember base in the region. We are delighted that we have entered into this partnership with the National Bank of Bahrain, one of the largest banks and most prominent locally owned institutions in the region, for the acceptance of JCB Cards. This partnership will enhance our offering for convenience of cardholders in the Kingdom and cater for both the business and touristic needs of our cardholders worldwide.”
