In partnership with Mastercard, Carat from Fiserv in Poland has launched a Cash2Card solution to drive financial inclusion for people in the country. The solution enables people to deposit cash at participating enterprise retailers and have the funds transferred digitally to their bank account through Mastercard's Send network.
Conceptualisation of Cash2Card Solution:
The idea of Cash2Card solution was born out of the pain point that people face when they have cash and need to deposit it in their bank account, but banks are closed or have limited opening hours. The solution allows people to deposit funds any time of the day using an extended retail network, thereby bringing more people into the digital banking sector.
Role of Carat from Fiserv and Mastercard:
Carat from Fiserv in Poland created the KYC (Know Your Customer) app to facilitate the Cash2Card solution. The partnership with Mastercard was key to enabling the depositing of cash to be cleared through the Mastercard Send network and into people's bank accounts. Mastercard also helped in building the application and speaking to issuing banks to bring them on board.
Success of Cash2Card Solution:
The Cash2Card solution has been hugely successful, with several million transactions already recorded in the friends and family pilot stage. After the initial success with Mastercard, Visa also came onboard which has further expanded the reach and accessibility of our Cash2Card solution. The solution has also helped issuing banks extend their network without investing in additional branches. By utilising the extensive network of Zabka, Dino, Makro, and Netto stores across Poland we can offer users greater access to deposit funds into their bank account, 9am – 10pm, 7 days a week.
The Cash2Card solution developed by Carat from Fiserv and Mastercard is a game-changer for financial inclusion in Poland, especially for those who work in cash-in-hand jobs and previously had limited access to digital banking services. Additionally, this solution provides a critical lifeline for Ukrainian refugees who have migrated to Poland in search of work and a better life. With this technology, they can now easily deposit cash and transfer funds to their bank accounts, giving them greater access to financial services and enabling them to participate in the digital economy. This partnership between Carat from Fiserv and Mastercard exemplifies how technology can be leveraged to address real-world problems and improve the lives of millions of people.
The Carat Cash2Card solution is a great example of how the payment ecosystem can come together to resolve real problems with technology at the forefront. Carat from Fiserv and Mastercard's partnership has enabled financial inclusion in Poland and the success of the solution bodes well for expanding it to other markets in Europe.