1LINK has entered into a partnership with TouchPoint Pvt Ltd aimed at expanding interoperable self-service banking infrastructure across Pakistan, bringing together the payments network operator and the technology provider on a shared services model. The signing ceremony was attended by Tabish Sabah, Director and CEO of TouchPoint, Najeeb Agrawalla, CEO of 1LINK, Haider Wahab, Executive Director at TouchPoint, Bashir Khan, Chief Merchants, Schemes and Alliances at 1LINK, and Azimullah Khan, Chief Digital and Tech Solutions at 1LINK, along with their respective teams.
The partnership introduces an OPEX-based cash deposit machine model and other services to banks, allowing them to expand their self-service banking infrastructure without the higher upfront capital costs typically associated with deploying this kind of hardware. Under an OPEX-based structure, banks pay for the equipment and services on an ongoing operational basis rather than purchasing machines outright, lowering the barrier for banks looking to expand their self-service footprint without committing large amounts of capital expenditure at once.
Through the collaboration, banks will also gain access to interoperable services through the 1LINK ecosystem, meaning self-service infrastructure deployed under this model can connect across different banks’ systems rather than being limited to a single institution’s network. This kind of interoperability is a core function of 1LINK’s role as Pakistan’s domestic payment switch, and extending it to self-service banking channels like cash deposit machines gives customers more flexibility in where and how they can access services, regardless of which bank issued their account.
The partnership reflects a broader push by 1LINK and TouchPoint to expand self-service banking infrastructure across Pakistan, with banks expected to begin adopting the OPEX-based model as they look to grow their branchless and self-service channels. Further rollout details, including which banks will onboard first and the pace of deployment, are likely to emerge as the two companies move from signing to implementation.
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