OCBC Bank offer remote top-up for EZ-Link cards

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC Bank) and EZ-Link have announced a collaboration to introduce a remote means of topping-up EZ-Link cards, for greater customer convenience.

The ‘Top & Tap' service is available via OCBC Mobile Banking and EZ-Online with immediate effect. OCBC Bank is the first and only bank to tie up with EZ-Link to offer such a remote top-up service.

Top & Tap is a two-step process that involves securing funds from an OCBC Bank account. This can be done with a mobile phone using OCBC Mobile Banking or by using a credit or debit card on EZ-Link's website before proceeding to an EZ-Online Station to tap the EZ-Link card on the card reader to complete the process. Customers can top-up their own cards or that of a family member, and can do so remotely - the beneficiary does not have to be present with their EZ-Link card at the point of funds transfer.

“We're pleased to partner EZ-Link to develop this initiative, to offer choice and convenience to consumers when it comes to topping-up their EZ-Link cards,” comments Patrick Chew, senior VP and head of delivery, group consumer financial services, OCBC Bank.

Ten schools have agreed to participate in the Top & Tap programme to benefit their students who will be able to top-up their EZ-Link cards at school, for immediate use. In this instance, once funds are secured via OCBC Mobile Banking or EZ-link's website, all the student needs to do, is to proceed to the school office where a dedicated PC with an EZ-Link card reader attached will allow them to tap their cards to update the increased value in their cards.

The aim is to have all schools provide this service to students and parents. EZ-Link is willing to issue EZ-Link card readers to all schools to help facilitate this, since all students already carry a student ID card which is also an EZ-Link card.

The collaboration comes in anticipation of an increase in EZ-Link transactions due to higher public transport riders as well as an increase in the number and range of merchant and government agencies that accept EZ-Link payments, such as McDonald's, 7-Eleven Convenience Stores, F&N Coca-Cola vending machines, F&B outlets at NTU and NUS and all National Library Board branches. On average, 4m EZ-Link transactions are made on Singapore's public transport system everyday.

“Busy parents and working adults will be able to top-up their children or family members' EZ-Link cards using OCBC Mobile Banking anytime, anywhere without having to go to fixed physical locations such as the Ticket Offices or General Ticketing Machines located at MRT stations,” adds Chew. “It helps save time, and minimises anxiety about low values in EZ-Link cards.”