Hana Bank, SK Broadband offer TV-based bill payment service for seniors

A TV screen shows the menu for a bill payment service offered by Hana Bank jointly with SK Broadband on B tv, a TV channel owned by SK Broadband. Courtesy of Hana Bank

By Yi Whan-woo

Hana Bank has joined hands with SK Broadband to offer a beta service aimed at making it easier for senior citizens to pay bills, the bank announced on Friday.

It said the two parties launched the bill payment service on B tv, a TV channel operated by SK Broadband as an internet network provider.

The targeted customers can verify their names and other private information using a mobile phone, and use a TV remote control to pay bills for tax, insurance, electricity, gas, water and other utilities.

The service can selected through the “Happy Seniors” menu on B tv.

“We expect senior citizens will welcome the service, considering they can sit on their couch in front of the TV to pay the bills, instead of coming to banks in person or using a small mobile screen to do so,” Hana Bank said in a press release.

It said the service was designed after testing it “for a considerable time” on the targeted age groups and making improvements through trial and error.

The bank expressed hope that the payment service using TVs can help familiarize senior citizens with digital banking in the midst of a dwindling number of offline banking branches.

“Elderly people have been the ones who find it difficult to get accustomed to digital banking, and we'll continue to improve their convenience,” the company said.

The bank has been partnering up with firms in a range of industries to provide tailor-made services for elderly customers as the country's population is aging fast.