Krung Thai collaborates with Chachoengsao Province to promote cashless spending in all aspects. Recently, they launched the intelligent fare payment system, “Smart Mobility”, enhancing public transport services with just a tap or scan to pay instead of cash, reducing contact starting October 1st. They are advancing technology and financial innovations to improve quality of life in five areas, establishing a Smart Market system for over 2,200 shops, supporting health rights access through Health Wallet, developing a University Application to elevate Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University into a smart university, and creating systems to connect data for government agencies, propelling Chachoengsao towards becoming a smart city.

Mr. Maitree Traithilanant, Governor of Chachoengsao Province, revealed that Chachoengsao Province has partnered with Krung Thai Bank and Chumphon Rung Ruang Company to develop the “Smart Mobility” project under a memorandum of understanding to elevate the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) into a smart city. This initiative aims to develop a cashless fare payment system that connects the online systems of public transport providers, as part of the mission to develop Chachoengsao into a sustainable livable city by leveraging technology and innovation to enhance the quality of life for citizens while establishing infrastructure to promote trade and investment, increase competitiveness, and be environmentally friendly, moving towards becoming a Smart City in the EEC.

The “Smart Mobility” project is one of the frameworks for developing Chachoengsao into a smart city, utilizing modern and intelligent technology to improve the efficiency of the transport system within the province and enhance travel convenience. Additionally, it receives support from Krung Thai Bank in using financial innovations to improve the quality of life for citizens.

Mr. Chalerm Praditachip, Senior Assistant Managing Director of Small and Medium Business Network at Krung Thai Bank, stated that the bank is committed to continuously bringing modern technology and financial innovations to enhance the quality of life for people in Chachoengsao. Recently, they collaborated with Chumphon Rung Ruang Company to develop a cashless fare payment system through the EMV Contactless system, allowing fare payments via Krung Thai EDC machines by tapping debit or credit cards with the Contactless symbol or scanning QR codes using Krung Thai NEXT or mobile banking from any bank, starting October 1, 2021, to facilitate convenient travel, improve life quality, meet modern lifestyle needs, reduce contact, and minimize COVID-19 risks.

Moreover, this initiative also addresses the needs and facilitates public transport operators, enabling them to check payment records for each bus online, enhancing cash management efficiency. Initially, five air-conditioned buses with 20 seats each will be available for urban travel. Following this, there are plans to expand the EMV Contactless fare payment system to other public transport providers, such as songthaews and vans, totaling over 60 vehicles under the Mass Transit project, which is one of the five ecosystems that the bank aims to address for customers using mass transit.

Furthermore, the bank has collaborated to elevate Chachoengsao into a “Smart City” by introducing five areas of technology and financial innovation: 1. Smart Economy, promoting a cashless society in Chachoengsao through the Smart Market system, providing digital payment services to 2,200 participating shops; 2. Smart Mobility, developing an EMV Contactless system for cashless fare payments; 3. Smart People, developing a University Application for Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University, linking the university's information system with the bank's digital transaction system to support all lifestyles and activities of students, faculty, and staff in one place, driving towards becoming a smart university; 4. Smart Living, providing citizens access to basic health services from birth to old age through Health Wallet on the Paotang application, in collaboration with the Health Insurance System Office (NHSO); 5. Smart Governance, enhancing work efficiency, reducing steps, speeding up processes, ensuring transparency and accountability, leading to good governance by connecting data for government agencies, such as the e-Police Station project that allows online checking of tickets and paying traffic fines through the bank, the e-Filing digital court project for filing and receiving lawsuits online, along with fee payment systems, and local tax collection projects.

“The development of Chachoengsao into a smart city is a significant collaboration between Krung Thai Bank and Chachoengsao Province, with a shared goal of establishing a digital platform that connects the infrastructure of all citizens and agencies to enhance work efficiency and provide convenience across all aspects of life, aligning with the bank's five main ecosystem strategic plan to improve the quality of life for citizens and drive Thailand's economy towards sustainability.”