Nepal Pay card has been launched on March 31, 2025. The card was released by Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) while inaugurated by Nepal Rastra Bank governor Mahaprasad Adhikari. In this post, we guide you through what the Nepal Pay card is, its benefits, and which banks provide it.
What is the Nepal Pay card?
Nepal Pay is a payment card developed by NCHL, and like every other card, it is used for electronic transactions. The card is issued by various banks. Users of this card will get it in debit, credit, prepaid, and virtual card forms.
Also: Fonepay And NIPL Bring Nepal-India Cross-Border Payment
Key benefits of the Nepal Pay card?
Nepal Pay will make digital payments straightforward, secure, and more accessible. It also helps a vast amount of money outflow as it operates completely within Nepal. Additionally, since all transaction details remain within the country, they are also secure.
Which banks provide the Nepal Pay card, and when?
Lumbini Development Bank has started issuing Nepal Pay cards for its customers. The bank’s Deputy CEO, Umesh Regmi, and NCHL CEO, Nileshman Singh Pradhan have signed an agreement for the advanced payment service.
Next in line to provide the Nepal Pay card services are Citizens Bank, Machhapuchchhre Bank, Himalayan Bank, Goodwill Finance, Muktinath Development Bank, NMB Bank, Prabhu Bank, Sangrila Development Bank, and Siddhartha Bank.
More banks will join NCHL to issue this payment card in the near future. The card system has just been unveiled, so the banks will take a while to start distributing it to their customers.
The card is developed as part of NRB’s objective of operating a domestically made payment system. NCHL says that the preparation for the issuance of the card is completed, and soon, banks will be integrated into this innovative payment system.
Speaking about the timeline, the card was inaugurated with Himalayan Bank handing over a Nepal Pay card to the governor, Adhikari. Likewise, the first transaction was performed on an MBL POS machine using the card.
Nepal’s own payment card- Nepal Pay
Nepal Pay is described as Nepal’s own payment card and has been launched with the slogan, “Nepal Pay Card, Nepal’s Own Card”. What that means is that all the details of transactions that occur via this card will stay in Nepal. Therefore, it will help reduce illegitimate electronic transactions and promote a transparent and secure digital payment system.
According to NCHL, they are also planning to make this card usable abroad. Governor Adhikari stressed that Nepal Pay, being a Nepal-made card, will promote Nepal’s financial independence.
“Paying through international providers like Visa and MasterCard used to incur additional costs. Now that the card (Nepal Pay) is operated in Nepal, that cost will be saved,” the governor said.
It’s believed that Nepal Pay card will start a new age for a secure and easy digital payment experience in Nepal.