KATHMANDU, – Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Bam Bahadur Mishra, has stated that the recent merger between IME Pay and Khalti will help fulfill the central bank’s goal of establishing a secure and reliable digital payment ecosystem in Nepal.

Speaking at a formal event marking the launch of unified operations under the brand ‘Khalti by IME’, Mishra expressed hope that the merger would resolve long-standing issues within Nepal’s digital transaction system.

He further extended best wishes to all digital platforms striving to meet the NRB’s vision and advised them to operate in a manner that leaves no room for public complaints. Reflecting on past financial sector consolidations, he cautioned against sidelining employees, a concern often raised after bank and financial institution mergers. “Let this merger be different,” he urged, “move forward inclusively, treating all employees equally.”

Deputy Governor Mishra also noted that while the government focuses on the overall digital economy framework, the NRB has been proactively strengthening the payments segment. He emphasized the importance of safe systems across all platforms and acknowledged the collective contributions of various stakeholders in making progress possible.

Highlighting the NRB’s recent policy initiatives, Mishra said, “We have introduced a regulatory sandbox in the latest monetary policy. In the days ahead, we aim to coordinate payment systems with technology innovation to move the digital banking sector forward.”