KINGSTON, Jamaica – Students using the National Rural School Bus Programme (NRSBP) will now be able to top up their cards at Bill Express locations islandwide.

GraceKennedy Payment Services (GKPS), in a press release on Friday, indicated it has partnered with Elhydro Limited to launch in-store card top-up services for the NRSBP.

The group says the new initiative ensures that students and parents in rural parishes have a reliable, physical location to manage their travel funds.

GraceKennedy states that the service is strictly cash-only, but emphasises the rapid availability of funds, which will be ready for use on the bus card within 30 minutes of a top-up.

There will be no transaction limits; customers can top up as frequently as they wish with no maximum limit, and the group says all personal information collected is used strictly for transaction, informational, and promotional purposes.

To top up, customers must provide the alphanumeric characters found on the front of the student card. First-time users will also need to provide their name, phone number, address, and email (if available).

While the service is open to all parents, students aged 15 and older may top up independently with a valid student ID; students under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

“GraceKennedy remains deeply committed to supporting national initiatives that drive social progress,” said CEO of GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) Margaret Campbell.

“By integrating the National Rural School Bus Programme into our Bill Express network, we are not just facilitating transactions; we are supporting the educational journey of our nation’s youth and providing convenience and peace of mind to parents”, shared Campbell at a partnership signing recently at GraceKennedy headquarters in Downtown, Kingston.

Also speaking at the signing, Regional Manager GKPS, Terence Slater, emphasised the accessibility of the service.

“Our strategic push has always been to meet our customers wherever they are. By leveraging our 300+ Bill Express retail facilities, we are ensuring that parents and guardians in even the most remote areas of the country, especially those currently hindered by connectivity issues, now have a convenient, affordable way to have their children get to school safely,” said Slater.

Vice President of Elhydro Major Paul Brown added that the alliance aligns with a shared commitment to empowering students. He noted that the service is a vital solution for those “impacted by Hurricane Melissa who remain without internet connectivity and can now visit a physical location.”

To assist families during this transition, GK says a subsidised customer fee of $25 per transaction will be in effect until June 30, 2026. Following this period, the standard customer fee of $65 per transaction will apply.

The  programme, launched in September 2025, is aimed at providing safe, affordable transportation for students and serves all rural parishes, including St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, St Mary, Portland and St Thomas.