Nghe An promotes payment via banks for public services
(Baonghean) - Following the Government's direction, Nghe An province is implementing many solutions to promote cashless payments, including public services. The goal is to reduce the proportion of cash to total means of payment to less than 10% by the end of 2020.
In fact, the promotion of POS payments at stores and businesses has had some changes, but for public services, areas considered to be “potential” such as hospitals, schools, electricity bills, water bills, etc., cash payments are still the main method. This is a problem that the government is directing the State Bank to coordinate with relevant agencies to research, expand, and improve the quality of payment services.
With the goal of creating a shift in non-cash payments in the economy, gradually changing the habit of using payment methods in society, reducing social costs related to cash, reducing the proportion of cash in circulation, by the end of 2020, the proportion of cash in total means of payment will be lower than 10%,On February 23, 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision 241 approving the project to promote payment via banks for public services: taxes, electricity, water, tuition, hospital fees and payment of social security programs.
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| People have gradually become accustomed to paying for many services through banks. Photo: Viet Phuong |
Pursuant to Decision 241 of the Prime Minister, on July 13, 2018, Nghe An issued Decision 2996 promulgating the Implementation Plan in the area.
The target by 2020 for budget collection services is that 80% of tax payment transactions in Vinh city will be made through banks, at the provincial state treasury, treasuries in Vinh city, Cua Lo town, Thai Hoa, Hoang Mai have equipment to accept bank cards to serve state budget collection.
Regarding electricity bill payment service: 70% of units under Nghe An Electricity accept payment of electricity bills via banks; in Vinh city, Thai Hoa town, Hoang Mai, Cua Lo strive to have 70% of the amount paid for electricity bills via banks.
For water bill payment service: 70% of water companies accept payment of water bills via banks; strive for 50% of individuals and households in Vinh city to pay water bills via banks.
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| Cash circulation is now the main mode of transportation, causing many ATMs to be used as "mobile wallets". Photo: Viet Phuong |
For tuition payment services: 100% of universities and colleges; 80% of students at universities and colleges pay tuition fees through banks.
For hospital fee payment service, strive for 50% of hospitals in Vinh City to accept hospital fee payment via bank.
Regarding social security payment services, strive for 20% of social security payments in Vinh City, Cua Lo Town, Thai Hoa, and Hoang Mai to be made through banks.
Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee also assigned responsibility to relevant agencies and units to standardize data information with subjects to connect and share payment service providers and payment intermediary service providers to serve payment of amounts as well as pension and social insurance benefits through banks.
According to the synthesis of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) branch in Nghe An province, the province currently has 1,691 units paying salaries via accounts, of which the number of units receiving state budget salaries paid via accounts is 1,302 units. The total turnover of salary payments via accounts is more than 3,758 billion VND, of which the total turnover of salary payments via accounts for units receiving state budget salaries is nearly 2,600 billion VND. The province has 1,051 POS installed, 946 units accepting card payments, a sharp increase compared to 2016 (only 399 units accepted).
