Serbia introduces Viber money transfers via PayChat

A new service in Serbia allows users to initiate money transfers directly through the Viber messaging app using only a recipient's phone number. This functionality is enabled by PayChat, a Viber chatbot that utilizes the National Bank of Serbia’s ‘Prenesi’ instant payment system.

To use the service, a user selects a contact from their Viber directory or enters a phone number via the PayChat bot and specifies the amount. The bot then uses a deep link to open the user's specific mobile banking application, where the transaction must be finalized and confirmed using security measures such as a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.

Security protocols ensure that Viber and PayChat do not have access to bank account details, passwords, or PINs, nor do they hold the funds. The actual transaction is executed through the user's bank and the National Bank of Serbia's infrastructure. For the service to work, the sender must have an active mobile banking app on the same device, and the recipient must have their phone number registered within the ‘Prenesi’ system.