Kuwaiti banks, in cooperation with KNET, are preparing to stop the electronic payment links service for individuals, known as “Links,” following regulatory directions from the Central Bank of Kuwait.

The service, which has been used as a local payment method since 2015, is expected to be discontinued soon, although no specific date has been announced yet.

Banks and KNET are preparing transitional awareness campaigns, subject to Central Bank approval, to inform customers about the reasons for stopping the service and encourage them to shift to WAMD, Kuwait’s instant payment system.

The move is aimed at strengthening payment security and improving regulatory oversight, particularly by ensuring greater transparency in identifying the actual beneficiary of transactions. Authorities have raised concerns that payment links can be shared among multiple individuals, potentially making them vulnerable to misuse in suspicious transactions and money laundering.

The cost of processing existing Links transactions is borne by the two banks involved through the interbank clearing system.