Bajans mixed on BiMPay as opinions shape early response

Just days after BiMPay officially went live, Barbadians are already divided over whether the island’s newest digital payment platform is the future of doing business or another service they still need to understand.

While some have embraced the convenience of instant money transfers across banks, others say they are waiting for more information, questioning whether the service suits their circumstances while warning that vulnerable groups should not be left behind.

Among those already sold on the idea is Katelia Murrell, who said BiMPay solved a problem she frequently encountered.

“It is a little more convenient for a person.. For me to send money to persons who sometimes do not have the same bank account that I do,” she said.

Murrell had already put the system to the test.

“I used it once, literally last night and it was actually fairly, very, very easy,” she said. 

What surprised her most was the speed.

“It said 10 seconds. I thought it was less than 10 seconds when it was, that the money was sent to the person, and then we tried the reverse where they sent me back the money and we tried it via the QR code type of it and it worked.”

For self-employed Shaquille Hewitt, BiMPay represents hope that receiving payments may become less frustrating.

“As a self-employed person it’s kind of difficult where money transfers and being paid by a check that’s not from your bank,” he said.

“So, I would hope that this would be something that would ease that process a bit.”

Others welcomed the initiative but cautioned that Barbados must ensure no one is excluded as the country moves further into digital transactions.

“I think there should be ways and means that, other than BiMPay that people could get, especially the older people that don’t have computer knowledge or other people that don’t have a phone,” Holford Walrond said.

“There should be ways and means that they could get access to money also. That’s my take on it.”

While supportive of the government’s efforts, he insisted that choice remained important.

“If the government think that this is a good way forward for Barbados… Well, I think the government is doing a good job. But yet still, I as a person believe there should be options too.”

Rico Simpson has already signed up and believes the service offers advantages over existing payment methods.

“I have BiMPay. I just need to activate it now,” he said.

“I decided to have BiMPay because I find it as a good means of being easily able to transfer money just like [CIBC] First Pay.”

“But only thing with this, it could go to multiple accounts or any account at any time instantly.”

“With First Pay, you know, I have to be either belong to the same [CIBC] and have a cell number and everything.”

“But here, you don’t even have to have an account number like a bank. You could actually have all your funds on the BiMPay app as well, too.”

But, for Joseph Cummins, the issue is not opposition but understanding.

“It is difficult to be able to conceptualize it based on the limited information I’ve exposed myself to,” he said.

“The information is there, but I need to now go and do the actual research, do the the information, see how it relates to me as an individual, particularly within the banking system, how it impacts on the systems I use to to deal with money.”

Even so, he acknowledged what he viewed as its broader social value.

“People who are outside the formal structure will get a chance to be involved in the formal banking system and be able to use that to their benefit.”

Still, he questioned whether it would change his own habits.

“As an individual, I always wonder how it would impact on me at my age, particularly when I’m more or less outside of the mainstream banking system that I use banking just simply to pay bills and other things that influence me.

“So, the question was asked, does that impact on me? Does it would it cause me to make changes to incorporate that? And that is where the mystery is in terms of how it impacts on me as an individual at this time of my life.”

At Pelican Village, Sandra Padmore, owner of Nafai Creations, said the nature of her business made the decision less straightforward.

“Well, I am thinking about it so far. I haven’t tried it yet,” she said.

“But my question is, having a mostly tourist shop… if it would make any sense if it’s only mostly for the locals.

“Because we don’t get much locals coming to these souvenir shops, so that has me a little confused.

“And most of them carry their credit cards or debit cards and thing. I have my machine already, so I would like to know about that.”

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said BiMPay was designed especially with small business operators and vendors in mind, offering a faster and more inclusive way to send and receive payments.

But on the streets of Bridgetown and among vendors trying to decide whether to sign on, the conversation is proving to be less about technology and more about convenience versus familiarity, innovation versus accessibility, and whether a system said to be the future of payments can work for every Barbadian.

(LE)