BANGKOK (NNT) - Thai consumers lead all others in the Asia-Pacific region when it comes to using digital payment methods, according to a survey by MasterCard, which also found that the region is the most enthusiastic when it comes to cashless transactions.


That is good news for economic planners who would like to see Thailand become a cashless society.


A wide range of digital payment programs and services are available alongside the government’s own PromptPay system. Digitalization has been a key priority under the 4.0 national development strategy.


MasterCard based the index on its survey of more than 35,000 respondents in 40 countries. According to its second annual New Payments Index, consumers in Asia and the Pacific are the most enthusiastic adopters of digital payments in the world.


More than 88% of consumers in the region have used technologies such as digital wallets, QR codes, buy now and pay later services, cryptocurrencies, and biometrics.


Aileen Chew, MasterCard’s Country Manager for Thailand, said, “Consumers in Thailand topped the list with 94% having used digital payments across multiple forms, including QR codes and wallet payments.” She added that “Thailand is a leading example of the future of digital payments and how MasterCard thinks about payments.”


According to a survey conducted by Deloitte consulting, Thai banks are beginning to mature in the field of digital payments - scoring among the best for customer retention on mobile banking.


Metinee Jongsaliswang, Executive Director and Thailand Country Consulting Leader at Deloitte Consulting said that “As Thai banks look to the future, they must consider the ‘moments that matter’ to their end-customers and invest in customer experiences to enable a seamless digital experience.”


Thailand Leads Asia-Pacific in Digital Payment Methods