Google Pay Goes Live in Bangladesh in Partnership with City Bank

Google's digital payment service, Google Pay, is officially launching in Bangladesh today, Tuesday, June 24, through a strategic partnership with City Bank. This marks the first time a Bangladeshi bank has directly integrated with Google Pay. The collaboration also includes global card networks Mastercard and Visa as partners.

While the service will be formally launched today, the exact date from which customers can begin using the cardless app-based transaction system will be revealed during the inauguration event.

The official launch will take place this morning at The Westin Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, where Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, is scheduled to inaugurate the service. Tracy N. Jacobson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, and Hossain Khaled, Vice Chairman of City Bank, are also expected to attend the event.

Using Google Pay, users can make payments via Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The app’s “Tap and Go” feature allows contactless payments at point-of-sale (POS) terminals. This method has gained global popularity for its speed and security in retail transactions.

Following the launch, only City Bank’s Mastercard and Visa cardholders will be able to link their cards to Google Wallet and access the service. With this feature, users can complete seamless and secure transactions at any POS terminal—locally or internationally—using just their Android smartphones, eliminating the need to carry physical cards.

Google Pay is currently operational in over 40 countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. City Bank officials have stated that the service’s entry into Bangladesh's growing digital economy is expected to unlock new possibilities for innovation and financial inclusion.