The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has once again demonstrated its leadership in technology and innovation by introducing Google Pay support for its Mastercard debit and credit cardholders. This milestone, achieved in collaboration with Mastercard and Google, enhances Sri Lanka’s digital payment landscape.
With this new service, Mastercard debit and credit cardholders issued by Commercial Bank can integrate their cards into the Google Pay app, allowing for secure, contactless transactions via NFC-enabled Android smartphones. Customers can effortlessly make payments at contactless-enabled Point-of-Sale terminals both in Sri Lanka and globally, wherever Mastercard is accepted, eliminating the necessity to carry physical cards.
The system employs advanced tokenization technology to protect every transaction. By replacing actual card numbers with secure digital tokens, sensitive card information is kept safe from merchants and is not stored on devices. Each card is authenticated through one-time passwords or bank verification, ensuring a payment experience that meets global security standards while offering daily convenience.
Google Pay is designed to cater to a variety of use cases, including groceries, dining, commuting, in-store, and online payments. It provides Commercial Bank customers with a faster, safer, and more intuitive way to pay, aligning with the evolving digital lifestyles of Sri Lankans.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank, stated, “Launching Google Pay in Sri Lanka for the first time, and extending it to our Mastercard cardholders, underscores our determination to bring world-class digital payment solutions to our customers without compromising on security or reliability. This initiative strengthens our role as a catalyst for digital adoption in Sri Lanka, while giving our customers the freedom to transact globally with confidence, speed, and simplicity. At Commercial Bank, digital innovation is not about novelty; it is about delivering practical, secure solutions that enhance convenience in everyday life for our customers and move the country’s financial ecosystem forward.”
Mr. Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager – Sri Lanka & Maldives at Mastercard, added, “This initiative introduces a new level of security, convenience, and choice for Commercial Bank customers and Mastercard cardholders. By simply adding their cards to Google Pay, cardholders can Tap & Go locally and globally with confidence. Tokenization protects card credentials end to end, ensuring every transaction is secure and accepted seamlessly across more than 210 countries and territories. Moreover, every contactless Mastercard transaction made in Sri Lanka will contribute to the construction of the Trail Cancer Hospital. This collaboration demonstrates how digital payments can extend beyond everyday utility to create lasting social impact, reflecting Mastercard’s commitment to Doing Well by Doing Good.”
The strategic launch of Google Pay with Mastercard highlights Commercial Bank’s long-standing commitment to digital innovation, customer security, and convenience while actively supporting Sri Lanka’s transition towards a cashless and digitally enabled economy. It is also expected to accelerate the adoption of touchless payments nationwide and contribute meaningfully to national digital economy initiatives, according to the Bank.
With this latest initiative, Commercial Bank continues to set new benchmarks in Sri Lanka’s banking sector, reaffirming its leadership in delivering globally aligned digital payment solutions that are secure, convenient, and future-ready.
Commercial Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank with a market capitalization exceeding US$ 1 billion and was the first bank in the country to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World. It boasts the highest capital base among all Sri Lankan banks and is the largest private sector lender in Sri Lanka, as well as the largest lender to the country’s SME sector. Ranked No. 1 in the Business Today Top 40, Commercial Bank is recognized as the most respected and most-awarded bank in Sri Lanka. It is also a leader in digital innovation and is Sri Lanka’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank.
Commercial Bank operates a network of strategically located branches and automated machines island-wide and has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan banks, with 20 branches in Bangladesh, a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives, a microfinance company in Myanmar, and a representative office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The Bank’s fully owned subsidiaries, CBC Finance Ltd. and Commercial Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Limited, also deliver a range of financial services via their own branch networks.
Photo caption: Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director and CEO of Commercial Bank, and Mr. Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives of Mastercard.
