Sampath Bank partners SLPA to expedite port-related payments

Sampath Bank, a premier private commercial bank and the pioneer in technological innovations in the banking industry, has partnered with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to expedite port-related landing and delivery payments and deliver a hassle-free facility to exporters and importers in Sri Lanka.
This is the first time this landing and delivery payment facility is being made available to private commercial banks in Sri Lanka and Sampath Bank is the first to be chosen by SLPA to manage the same.
Commenting on the new partnership, an official said that Sampath Bank intends to simplify the port related payments procedure and guarantee transparency in documentation via its innovative information and technological knowhow. He further stated that this partnership was a step further in keeping with the government’s e-Sri Lanka initiative.
Now freight forwarders, logistic solution providers and or cargo agents can use Sampath Vishwa internet banking retail or corporate facility or Sampath Bank branches and make port related payments and get their cargo cleared in the least time possible.
Two payment options
To expedite payments for the SLPA, the customer is given two options to make payments through Sampath Bank delivery channels; through Sampath internet banking solution (Sampath Vishwa retail and corporate) or via a visit to the nearest bank branch.  The payment should be done by the customer based on the invoice number issued by the SLPA system.
Once the payment is made, the invoice number will be validated real time by the Sampath Bank system by connecting online to SLPA and simultaneously the payment details will be directly posted to the SLPA System. An SMS Alert will be sent to the customer for the relevant debit transaction. Finally, the customer can clear the goods without a hassle.
To process these payments, customers can use their iPad, mobile phone or a computer to log on to the online payment system or visit the nearest Bank branch or any Sampath Bank super branch located island wide. Another unique feature is that Sampath Bank customers and non-customers can make port related payments through Super Branches, 365 days of the year, including holidays, from 8.00am  to 8.00 pm at their convenience .
Sampath Bank is the only bank to maintain such a payment gateway for Information and Communication Technology Agency in Sri Lanka (ICTA).
Many firsts
Sampath Bank is synonymous with many firsts introduced to the banking industry in Sri Lanka. It was the first to introduce networked ATMs with the popular brand name ‘SET,’ MasterCard in 1989 and establishing the Uni-Banking system, a first time in the country allowing customers to operate their accounts from any branch irrespective of the branch where the account it opened.
Expanding its business to provide customer convenience by using technology, Sampath Bank was the first to introduce the debit card in South Asia in 1997, in association with Cirrus and Maestro.
The bank became the first in Sri Lanka to introduce one day clearing for all cheques drawn on any Sampath Bank branch, collected by any Commercial Bank in the island and presented through Sri Lanka Automated Clearing House (SLACH) in 2003.
In 2007, the bank created another first in South Asia with the launch of VISA Mini Debit Card and infused Telecommunication technology into banking technology with the introduction of ‘Sampath Mobile Cash,’ a money transfer process using mobile phones.
Total financial solutions
Expanding the avenues to provide total financial solutions to its customers, Sampath Bank introduced numerous products such as ‘Kalin Cash’ fixed deposit, payment guaranteed cheque, easy cheque deposit machine and foreign currency converter ATM in the recent past.
The bank has opened 28 branches in the North and East Provinces, becoming the first commercial bank to enter into region after the 30-year war in the country. At present the bank has 214 branches including seven super branches to provide a 365-day banking service.
The most recent technological innovations introduced to the banking sector by Sampath Bank are the foreign currency ATMs and cardless cash facility.