Colombo, Sri Lanka — HNB PLC, in partnership with Visa, has launched HNB Accept, a groundbreaking feature on the HNB Mobile Banking app that transforms any compatible smartphone into a secure mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) device. The innovation, powered by the Visa Accept platform, was unveiled at the Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025 in the presence of senior government officials and global fintech leaders.
Requiring no additional hardware, HNB Accept enables individuals and businesses — from MSMEs and women-led enterprises to home-based entrepreneurs — to receive digital payments affordably and seamlessly. The feature allows HNB Visa debit and prepaid customers to activate a seller profile within minutes and start accepting payments via Tap-to-Phone or Pay-by-Link, with transactions processed over Visa’s global network and funds settled in near real time.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne hailed the initiative as a transformative step for Sri Lanka’s digital economy: “Such initiatives have the potential to transform the grassroots of the Sri Lankan economy, helping entrepreneurs transact digitally, generate opportunities for MSMEs, and widen participation in our nation’s emerging digital economy.”
HNB MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte emphasized the bank’s long-standing commitment to innovation: “The launch of HNB Accept marks another defining moment in our digital journey. By enabling any smartphone to securely accept payments, we are extending the financial system’s reach to the smallest enterprises and entrepreneurs.”
Avanthi Colombage, Visa’s Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, added: “Visa Accept is built to empower micro-merchants and home-based businesses by removing traditional barriers to digital commerce. Embedding it into HNB’s trusted mobile banking platform makes acceptance simple, secure, and scalable.”
With this launch, HNB and Visa are not only redefining financial accessibility in Sri Lanka but also setting a precedent for digital commerce solutions in emerging markets.
