(Islamabad) June 20, 2022: Khushhali Microfinance Bank Limited (KMBL) has acquired the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Compliance Certification – an international standard for payment card and data security via PCI QSA Firm Risk Associates, a premier global information technology company, who a certification body of Payment Card Industry Security Standard Council (PCI SSC). This certification recognizes KMBL’s high financial security standards, as recommended by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). It is a global forum that brings together payments industry stakeholders to develop and drive the adoption of data security standards and resources for safe payments worldwide.

In the last decade, the number of cyber-attacks on organizations has increased exponentially. With the continuous expansion in the digital landscape and exposure of services to customers on their cellphones and computers, organizations have become more and more prone to cyber-attacks. Khushhali Microfinance Bank strives to lead the industry on the digital front and considers that the security and protection of customers’ data are of utmost importance. Khushhali Microfinance Banks’ recent PCI-DSS certification bears testament to the Bank’s values, ensures the protection of customer card data from misuse, theft, and hacking, and adheres to the international standards set by the Payment Card Industry Council in all the areas of technology.

The President of Khushhali MF Bank – Ghalib Nishtar, stated that: “KMBL is now amongst those banks in Pakistan that are certified as PCI DSS Compliant and the first-ever microfinance bank in the country to fulfill the 231 total PCI requirements related to cyber-security and associated processes. We are proud of our strategic progress toward Digital Banking operations, and this certification is another big milestone to ensure compliance with global security standards.

The Managing Director– Kashif Hassan, PCI QSA, at Risk Associates, stated, ” I would like to commend KMBL for being assessed and ensuring successful Compliance & Data-Security Standard infrastructure in place, as set out by the PCI Council and endorsed by all the leading card brands, this a mutual accomplishment for our teams’ cooperation. We wish Khushhali Bank success in their endeavors along the path to enhanced data security standards.”

The PCI-DSS certification is based on eight key areas: network security, card data security, encryption, vulnerability management, physical and logical access control, strengthen security technology and security governance, Information Security monitoring, and the security of digital solutions & infrastructure supporting the digital platform.

Last year, KMBL became the world’s first financial institution to achieve Gold Level certification in ‘Client Protection’, given by the prestigious MicroFinanza Rating Agency, for meeting the highest industry standards. It has adopted global best practices, ensuring transparency, sustainability, and privacy of client data. The Bank has the vision to maintain its leadership in Pakistan’s Microfinance sector and strive for excellence. Customer-centricity is at the core of all KMBL operations as it facilitates entrepreneurship to enable the socio-economic growth of Pakistan.

For more information and queries about the PCI Council, please visit the website: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/.