NEPALPAY card gains global acceptance through Discover Network – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 30

Nepal Clearing House Ltd. (NCHL) has announced the commercial rollout of the NEPALPAY Card, Nepal’s national card scheme, with global acceptance through a collaboration with the Discover Network.

The NEPALPAY Card has been launched under the National Payment Switch – National Card Switch (NPS–NCS) project, allowing banks, financial institutions, payment service providers, and payment system operators in Nepal to issue cards that can be used at point-of-sale terminals and ATMs both domestically and internationally.

Through the partnership, NEPALPAY cardholders will gain access to millions of acceptance points worldwide, as Discover Network and Diners Club International are accepted in more than 190 countries and territories. At the same time, merchants in Nepal will be able to accept over 378 million international cards, including Diners Club and cards from multiple global network alliances.

According to NCHL, more than 34 banks and financial institutions have already entered into principal membership arrangements under the NPS–National Card Switch framework, with additional institutions expected to join in the near future. The system enables the interoperability of card-based transactions, including routing, settlement, dispute handling, and centralized reporting.

NCHL said the NEPALPAY Card is expected to reduce transaction costs, strengthen domestic control over card payments, support data localisation, and promote innovation in Nepal’s digital payments ecosystem.

NCHL, established in 2008 under the guidance of Nepal Rastra Bank, currently operates major national payment infrastructures, processing nearly 75 percent of Nepal’s non-cash transactions by settlement value, according to the company.