LINE – LINE Thailand has been responsible for huge growth in the fintech sector in recent years. The global messaging service had 205 million monthly active users as of April 2015(1), with Thailand being its second largest user base in Asia with no less than 33 million users(2). Line Pay is a mobile Wallet that allows its customers to make online and in-store payments by registering their credit card with the company. Line users can also send payments to other Line users. In Japan this year they announced the launch of LINE Pay Card, a prepaid card system for paying cash registers and LINE Points, a reward system for users of various LINE services.
PROMPTPAY – Fifteen commercial banks and four financial institutions work with PromptPay, the mobile P2P service developed by Bank of Thailand and the Thai Bankers’ Association. A spokesperson for the Bank of Thailand said, “transferees simply need to link their national ID or mobile phone numbers to their accounts for successful transactions. All banks confirmed their readiness for the official launch of public registration nationwide from July 15, 2016.”
PAYPAL – This is one of the older alternative payment services in Thailand and has been operational for a number of years now. From very early on you could send money by bumping iPhones. PayPal mobile can also be used through text messaging. The money comes out of your linked bank or credit card account, in just the same way as with other PayPal transactions.
NFC (Samsung Pay) – Near-field communication comes with the announcement from Samsung that they will launch Samsung Pay later this year. Vice president of IT and mobile communications at Thai Samsung Electronics, Wichai Pornpratang said, “Among the banks and card issuers already confirming their support for the service were Krungthai Card Co, Citibank, Kasikornbank, Bank of Ayudhya, Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank,”