stc pay launches in-app payment authentication in Bahrain

By Milan Rojan

stc pay Bahrain has launched Secure Approve, an in-app transaction authentication feature that has enabled customers to approve online card payments directly through its mobile application. The FinTech has said the feature has replaced SMS and email-based One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with real-time in-app transaction approvals.

The new feature has allowed customers to review key payment details, including the merchant name and transaction amount, before authorising a transaction. Users have been able to confirm or decline payments through their established in-app credentials and device security.

stc pay has positioned the feature as a response to security risks associated with conventional OTP-based authentication. The company has noted that SMS and email codes have faced vulnerabilities including interception, phishing and SIM-swap fraud.

Metin Zavrak, Chief Executive Officer of stc pay, has said the feature has been designed to combine transaction security with greater visibility for customers. He has added that allowing users to review payment details before authorisation has supported a more transparent digital payment process.

With the launch, stc pay has become the first financial technology provider in Bahrain to introduce in-app authentication for online card transactions, according to the company. The feature has been made available without requiring customers to opt in or complete additional activation steps.

stc pay has said Secure Approve will apply automatically to the next online purchase made using an stc pay card. The company has also said the feature has reduced reliance on external messaging networks by moving transaction authentication into its mobile application.

The launch has added another layer of authentication to stc pay’s digital payment infrastructure as financial institutions and FinTech providers have increasingly adopted app-based security measures for online transactions.