BPC and DFCC Bank Launch Sri Lanka’s First 8-Language Multilingual ATM Network

DFCC Bank has partnered with BPC to launch Sri Lanka’s first multilingual ATM and Cash Recycler Machine (CRM) interface, supporting eight languages across its self-service network. For fintech professionals, this deployment demonstrates how modernised switching and issuing infrastructure can be leveraged to reduce friction for international travellers and local users in high-traffic tourist hubs.

What was announced

DFCC Bank has introduced a first-of-its-kind self-service banking experience in Sri Lanka, enabling customers to navigate ATM and Cash Recycler Machine (CRM) interfaces in eight different languages. The system is designed to serve both the local population and the growing number of international tourists visiting the country. Users can now select their preferred language at the beginning of a transaction, with options including English, Sinhala, Tamil, French, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, and German.

The initiative is built upon a complete modernisation of DFCC Bank’s payments infrastructure. This includes updated ATM and CRM software, as well as card-switching and card-issuing systems, all implemented through BPC’s next generation SmartVista platform. By reviewing the entire customer journey—from initial language selection and screen instructions to transaction prompts—the bank has aimed to create an intuitive interface that removes the uncertainty often associated with foreign banking systems.

The multilingual capability has been deployed across the bank’s wider network, with a specific focus on locations with significant international and tourist activity. Key sites include the arrivals terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport, as well as popular tourist destinations such as Ella, Arugam Bay, and Hiriketiya. This rollout ensures that visitors can withdraw cash and perform transactions with greater independence immediately upon arrival and throughout their stay in Sri Lanka, while local customers benefit from a self-service experience available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

"Technology creates the greatest value when it removes difficulty from an everyday experience. For someone arriving in Sri Lanka, an ATM may be one of their first interactions with the country. Being able to complete that transaction in a familiar language provides confidence from the outset. Equally important is ensuring that self-service banking remains accessible to our local customers in Sinhala, Tamil and English. This initiative reflects our belief that technology should adapt to the customer, rather than expecting the customer to adapt to the technology."

Vindya Solangaarachchi, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of DFCC Bank.

The companies involved

BPC is a global leader in payments technology, known primarily for its SmartVista platform. The suite covers a wide range of banking needs, including card management, switching, merchant management, and fraud prevention. The company maintains a significant presence across emerging and established markets, frequently working with financial institutions to modernise legacy infrastructure and implement digital-first payment solutions. BPC’s role in this project involved providing the secure and scalable infrastructure required to support the new multilingual ATM and CRM network, as well as the underlying card-switching and issuing capabilities.

DFCC Bank is a prominent financial institution in Sri Lanka. Operating as a fully integrated commercial bank, it provides a variety of personal, corporate, and digital banking services. The bank has focused on digital transformation as a means of improving customer accessibility and service delivery. In this collaboration, DFCC Bank identified the specific customer need for multilingual support and worked to integrate these requirements into the technical framework provided by BPC. The bank’s strategy emphasises adapting technology to fit the user experience, particularly in high-growth sectors like tourism where language barriers can impact financial accessibility.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed BPC’s global expansion and platform deployments extensively across several regions. Recently, the company supported Pubali Bank Set to Advance Bangladesh’s Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion with SmartVista Card Management Platform, highlighting its continued growth in South Asia. In Europe, BPC collaborated with Banca Transilvania and BPC Deliver Romania’s First EU Digital Identity Wallet Payment, marking a significant milestone for digital identity integration.

The company’s market position was further validated when BPC Was Named “Luminary” Leader in Celent’s New Research on Retail Digital Banking Platforms in Latin America. Additionally, BPC has been active in Africa, where BIMBANK Deploys BPC's Advanced SmartVista Enterprise Fraud Management Solution to Become Mauritania's Leader in Real-time Fraud Protection. These reports reflect BPC’s broad reach across different banking verticals and geographies.

What this means

This move highlights a shift in how regional banks view the ATM as a customer acquisition and retention tool rather than just a utility. By catering to eight languages, DFCC Bank is directly addressing the friction points of the tourism economy, which is a vital revenue stream for the region. For the wider industry, this sets a benchmark for inclusive hardware interfaces. It puts pressure on regional competitors to move beyond basic bilingual support or face losing transaction volume at key transit hubs. The success of this initiative raises questions about whether multilingual interfaces will soon become a standard expectation for international travel hubs globally.