北國銀行 announced that it will launch Smart Plan on 1 October 2026. Infcurion and CCI Group will support implementation using Axios, with the aim of promoting cashless payments in local communities.
Infcurion and CCI Group announced that they will support Smart Plan, a new card merchant service that 北國銀行 is launching. Smart Plan enables merchants to accept contactless and QR-code payments by installing a dedicated app on an Android device. It uses Axios, a next-generation, fully cloud-based acquiring platform.
Axios is designed to eliminate the high costs of building proprietary systems and the complexity of operations, encouraging regional financial institutions and payment providers to enter the market. 北國銀行 is cited as an example of its adoption. A key feature is that merchants can add payment methods at low cost without requiring dedicated terminals.
Payments that 北國銀行 can process, including international card payments and Tochitsuka payments, including the bank's own Tochika-issued card, will be handled through an integrated system. This is expected to support the shift to cashless payments among local merchants, including small shops and event vendors.
Infcurion and CCI Group plan to use the launch at 北國銀行 as a springboard to expand support for Axios implementation at other regional financial institutions and payment providers, aiming to advance Japan's acquiring market and the development of a cashless society.