Republic Bank Launches First Wearable Payment Solution

On Saturday October 12th, 2019, at the Hero CPL Final, we pioneered a new and innovative way to pay, becoming the first Caribbean financial institution to deploy a contactless, wearable solution at a major sporting event.

Over 800 lucky cricket fans were given wearable bands, preloaded with $50. They were able to use the bands to purchase drinks at a dedicated cashless bar with a simple flick of the wrist. Feedback from both patrons and the bar concessionaire, is that this new payment experience was exciting, convenient and safe.

Denyse Ramnarine, General Manager, Electronic Channels and Payments (Right)

We first came up with the idea for the wearable bands while planning for our Hero CPL initiatives back in February 2019. Teams from our Group Marketing and Communications Department, Electronic Channels and Payments Division and Credit Card Centre worked together in true Republic Bank fashion to realise this groundbreaking initiative.

Republic Bank Staff

You might have heard that we recently announced our intention to acquire 19.99% of Nobis BaaS Limited, a Wipay subsidiary, subject to regulatory approval. In the perfect start to what promises to be groundbreaking partnership, Wipay provided on-site technical assistance for the wearables initiative and was also responsible for programming the devices.

Both the wearable solution and our investment in Nobis BaaS are direct results of our relentless pursuit to bring first-to-market payment solutions to the customers of the Republic Group. The entire Group is working towards setting new standards for excellence in banking and ease of doing business across the Caribbean and in Ghana. Stay tuned as we continue to deliver more exciting, innovations and value-added services with the ease, convenience and safety of our customers in mind.