PETALING JAYA: Pertama Digital Bhd
is currently in advanced joint venture talks to pursue digital banking license from Bank Negara.
Pertama Digital, in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, said the application deadline is on June 30.
“We are motivated by and aligned with the financial inclusion emphasis in the licensing framework for digital banks published by Bank Negara in December 2020,” Strategy director Saify Akhtar said.
“Pertama Digital is leading a consortium of innovators and veterans, bringing to market a homegrown solution, purpose built for those Malaysians that need us most.
“We have been hard at work coordinating capital, talent, technology and a captive market and are proud to announce that we have a uniquely sustainable banking model that exceeds the requirements laid out in the framework,” he said.
Pertama Digital is the holding company of DAPAT Vista (M) Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian company that specialises in digitalisation of government services.
Dapat also operates the government SMS gateway called mySMS and owns the MyPay and eJamin apps.
“Our vantage point gives us an edge because we have a wealth of information and lessons which have resulted in a successful and repeatable system that gets digitally and financially underserved Malaysians transacting online.
“Our team derives the most satisfaction from seeing our solutions adopted by people who have never made an online bank transfer before, for example. This is why we have collectively decided to pledge our resources into serving this market from here on,” Saify said.
“Pertama Digital has scheduled joint announcements with the digital banking consortium and collaborative partners, which will follow shortly," he added.
