Collaboration enables direct wallet deposits and nationwide cash access for inward remittances

bKash, Bangladesh’s largest mobile financial services provider, has collaborated with Mastercard to make it faster, easier, and safer for people to receive remittance from abroad, a press release said.

Through this, bKash will leverage Mastercard Move to enable inward remittances directly into mobile wallets, while also providing cash access through its network of more than 350,000 agents nationwide, serving millions of customers across Bangladesh. 

Under this collaboration, money sent through banks and authorized money transfer operators connected to Mastercard can be received in the bKash mobile wallets. Through the bKash mobile wallets, recipients can choose to withdraw cash from nearby bKash agents or make various types of payment – including utility bills, education or government fees – as well as send money, top up mobile credit, and open a bKash savings account, all from the comfort of their homes. 

The initiative aims to make international money transfers simpler and more accessible while supporting the country’s growing shift towards digital financial services.

Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer, bKash, said, “Through a secure, near real-time and seamless remittance experience, bKash has earned the trust of expatriates and their families living in Bangladesh. This continued focus has established bKash as a preferred platform for millions of Bangladeshi expatriates, contributing to strong and consistent inward remittance flows in recent years. bKash remains committed to serving as a reliable bridge for our remittance earners and their families, while also supporting the country’s foreign exchange inflows and broader economic stability.”

Zakia Sultana, Country Manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard, said, “At Mastercard, we are focused on building a payments ecosystem that is fast, secure, and inclusive. This collaboration with bKash enables people in Bangladesh to receive funds with greater ease—whether directly into their mobile wallets or through cash pick-up points. Together, we are helping expand access to cross-border payments and advance financial inclusion.”

Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest recipients of remittances, and mobile financial services are playing an increasingly important role in expanding access. With over 237 million registered mobile financial service accounts, the use of digital channels for remittances continues to grow.

This collaboration also supports the Bangladesh Bank’s efforts to promote secure and formal remittance channels, while making it easier for families across the country to access funds sent from abroad.