Bangladesh Bank Tightens Token Security for Card-to-MFS Integration
Bangladesh Bank has issued new technical guidelines for the first-time linking of cards to Mobile Financial Services (MFS), introducing a mandatory Tk 500 token transaction for card integration.
In a circular issued on Tuesday, 19 May, the directive was released by the Payment Systems Department-1 of Bangladesh Bank and sent to the chief executives of all MFS providers and scheduled banks in the country.
The instruction states that a Tk 500 token transaction must be completed when linking any card to an MFS account for the first time. Only after 24 hours of successful completion of this transaction will the card be eligible for regular “add money” or other transactions.
Bangladesh Bank said the measure will initially remain in effect as a temporary arrangement. However, from 1 August, if it is confirmed that the cardholder has an MFS account registered in their own name, cards may be linked directly without the token transaction requirement.
The circular further states that transactions adding funds from cards to MFS accounts must be categorized as “fund transfer” rather than “merchant payment.” It also instructs that beneficiary wallet numbers must be made visible to the card-issuing institution.
The central bank added that if the required technical systems are not implemented by 31 July, the “add money” facility from cards to MFS accounts must be suspended from 1 August.
It further noted that other transactions related to personal MFS accounts will continue to follow the instructions outlined in PSD Circular No. 05/2025 issued on 27 March 2025.
DBTech/JN/EK/OR
