The nationwide lockdown, which came into effect on August 11, has not affected most customers as they have switched to digital payment methods.

The economy recorded a total of 426,448 digital domestic payment transactions worth Nu 377.91 million (M) during the first two days of the lockdown.

On the first day of the lockdown, the central bank recorded 245,990 digital payments worth Nu 236.75M. The value of transactions on the second day amounted to Nu 141.16M from 180,458 digital payments.

According to the RMA’s Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, in continuation to the public notification issued by the RMA on availability of essential financial services online, there was a significant rise in usage of digital financial services in the first two days of the lockdown.

“We continue to encourage the public to switch to internet or mobile banking like MBoB, Mpay, Tpay etc. provided by the five commercial banks in the country, instead of relying on ATMs, POS, and cash.  Banks will guide and support their clients in the digital drive,” director of the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, Tshering Wangmo, said.

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