Citi Credit Cards launches ‘Tap & Go’ contactless payment service at MRT stations for added convenience and security, with an unrivalled cash back rewards program
text size

Citi Credit Cards launches ‘Tap & Go’ contactless payment service at MRT stations for added convenience and security, with an unrivalled cash back rewards program

Citi Credit Cards launches ‘Tap & Go’ contactless payment service at MRT stations for added convenience and security, with an unrivalled cash back rewards program

Highlighting its leadership role as a pioneer in financial technology that meets the new generation’s needs, Citibank recently launched a “Tap & Go” contactless MRT fare payment service that allows cardholders to pay for MRT tickets with a Citi credit card. The new service provides customers with added peace of mind and a swift, secure, contactless payment method that helps minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection. Citibank is hoping that Citi credit cards will ultimately become the people’s principal credit cards for everyday use anywhere anytime. Citi credit cards are offering “Tap & Go” benefits and rewards in the form of cash back from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

The launch ceremony for the “Tap & Go” contactless MRT fare payment service was held at an MRT station. To announce their partnership and celebrate this auspicious occasion, management from Citibank Thailand and Bangkok Metro Networks Limited (BMN), provider of advertising media and MRT station-based activity space leasing services, were on hand at the event, led by Vira-anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Business at Citibank Thailand; Mr. Pratik Bhattacharjee, Director, Credit Cards and Loans Head at Citibank Thailand; and Warote Nguitragool, Senior Vice President, Credit Cards at Citibank Thailand. They were joined by Nattavut Trivisvavet , CEO of Bangkok Metro Networks Limited (BMN); and Witsuwat Amkaphet, Managing Director of Bangkok Metro Networks Limited (BMN); and Aileen Chew, Country Manager of Mastercard for Thailand and Myanmar, all keen on offering their congratulations to Citibank’s head honchos. 

Citi Credit Cards launches ‘Tap & Go’ contactless payment service at MRT stations for added convenience and security, with an unrivalled cash back rewards program

Mr. Pratik Bhattacharjee, Director, Credit Cards and Loans Head at Citibank Thailand, said: "Citibank is all set to be part of the efforts to help support the development of Thailand's payment systems and make them sophisticated, convenient and secure for service users especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. People need to reduce physical contact as much as possible to minimise the risk of infection. Meanwhile let’s not forget that most people still have to use public transportation for daily commutes to work or to do some other business."

"For the sake of transaction convenience, over the past year, e-payments and payments through other channels such as mobile phones, internet banking, debit or credit cards have enjoyed widespread popularity.  A 2020 survey by Bank of Thailand showed Thais on average made 151 e-payments per person per year, a threefold increase from 2016 as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. There was a sharp increase in the use of contactless payment platforms on smart phones through banks’ proprietary apps or e-wallets. However, although credit cards or debit cards may have been a popular point-of-sale payment method, they have transaction limitations. In case of in-store payments, the card needs to be inserted into a card reader, which means physical contact with sales assistants is unavoidable. Payments with plastic cards are a more time-consuming process than payments made via a mobile phone.”  

“The contactless card technology has been adopted to provide convenience and reduce limitations of traditional card payments. Over the past few years, Thailand has introduced contactless card readers to accommodate contactless payment systems at various points of sales, including department stores, convenience stores, restaurants and gas stations. However, public transportation such as MRT, itself considered an important service in many people’s everyday lives, had yet to embrace this technology until recently,” said Mr. Pratik. 

Citi Credit Cards launches ‘Tap & Go’ contactless payment service at MRT stations for added convenience and security, with an unrivalled cash back rewards program

Members of Citi Mastercard credit cards and other types of Citi credit cards can tap the card to pay for MRT tickets at an automatic gate (Tap & Go) at MRT stations. Members of Citi Cash Back credit cards get 10 percent cash back when spending via a Citi credit card including top-ups or buying MRT tickets at MRT stations from February 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. By tapping the card to pay for MRT tickets, the contactless payment system will provide 10-percent cash back from March 1, 2022 onward.

In addition, members of Citi Mastercard credit cards and other Citi credit cards can avail cash back of up to 100 percent by using Citi Rewards points on purchases with a Citi credit card worth from a minimum of THB300 per sales slip at all MRT stations (except for Citi Cash Back, Citi Simplicity, Citi Royal Orchid Plus, Citi Makro, Citi Grab, Citi Lazada credit cards and all types of supplementary credit cards). There are steps for claiming cash back through redemption of rewards points: 1. Pay for the MRT fare 2. Receive an SMS, then click on the link to claim cash back and 3. Check the details and click “continue.”

“This partnership scheme is part of Citibank’s efforts to provide convenience to our customers as best as we could. We’re hoping that Citi credit cards will ultimately become the principal cards that customers use in their everyday lives, anywhere, anytime and in any activity conveniently, swiftly and securely, complete with different benefit deals,” Mr Pratik added. 

Nattavut Trivisvavet , CEO of Bangkok Metro Networks Limited, provider of advertising media and MRT station-based activity space leasing services, commented: "At present, the MRT is used by about 1.4 million passengers every day. At peak times, there’s a massive influx of MRT service users, resulting in traffic congestion at station ticket offices where people need to buy tickets or top up their MRT cards with a Citi credit card. With the introduction of a new payment system with EMV contactless cards, service users can  tap their card to enter or exit a station. BMN sees this new payment service by Citibank as another channel of communication with users of the MRT and Citi credit cards  about a new standard in MRT travel that has been set with the use of a contactless payment system that is very swift, convenient and secure for service users.”  

To use a Citi credit card to pay for the fare at MRT stations, simply tap the credit card over a contactless card reader with the universal Contactless symbol and over the "TAP HERE" sign at the bottom of the screen of a contactless-enabled payment terminal, located separately from the readers of MRT tokens or cards.  The screen will display "Welcome" and the automatic gate then opens. At the destination station, tap the card on the Contactless symbol and "TAP HERE" at the bottom of the screen at checkout. The screen will display the phrase "Thank you for using the service" and the automatic gate swings open.

When paying for the MRT fare with a Citi credit card, card members are subject to MRT fares applied to general persons. On the MRT Blue Line, the fare starts from THB17-THB42. On the MRT Purple Line, the fare ranges from THB14-THB42. For passengers commuting between the two lines, the maximum fare of THB70 applies.

For the latest updates on unrivaled benefit and offer deals for members of Citi credit cards, visit www.citibank.co.th, www.facebook.com/CitiThailand or Citi’s Line account: Citi Thailand.  


Do you like the content of this article?
5 1
COMMENT

By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies as described in our privacy policy and terms

Accept and close