Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

U.S. Bank improves contactless usage by targeting its users

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Targeted issuance–sending contactless cards to those most likely to use them–could be one of the reasons U.S. Bank’s contactless debit card program, which started in June, is “looking really promising,” a U.S. Bank group product manager told those attending the Bank Administration Institute’s Retail Delivery Conference this week in Orlando.

Nearly a third of its customers who received the card in June actually performed at least one contactless transaction. The bank Issued cards to specific segments, such as younger customers who are more likely to be aware of the technology and thus will use it more. “People who are not likely to use it, don’t waste your time issuing to them,” said U.S. Bank’s Michael Shepard.

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Superdrug, one of Britain’s largest beauty and health retailers, has introduced contactless payment for its in-store customers, according to Retail Gazette.

Created by Streamline and Visa Europe, the contactless system will enable customers to make payments of up to £15 (approx. USD $23) by simply waving their contactless bank card at the more than 50 participating Superdrug stores in London and Liverpool.

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la Caixa and Visa Europe have begun rolling out their contactless payment system in Barcelona. The bank is set to make all cards and point-of-sale across Barcelona contactless, requiring the distribution of 1 million cards and more than 15,000 new POS terminals.

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Banks and retailers must do more to increase consumer awareness and usage of contactless card technology, which remains incredibly low among the British populace, according to the latest research from YouGov’s Mobile Wallet study.

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Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, has announced the launch of a SIM-based NFC road toll payment application on the Turkcell T11 smart phone.

Developed in collaboration with Bank Asya, the app allows users to migrate their plastic KGS toll payment cards onto their T11 smart phone to pay for fares when crossing bridges and freeway turnpikes.

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German bank, Sparkasse will pilot contactless payments for its bank credit card users, reports Venture Village.

Locations in Hannover, Braunschweig and Wolfsburg will be some of the first for the trial, which begins in April. More than 1.3 million customers will receive the new bank cards complete with contactless functionality.

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NXP and Bank Mega partnered for a collaborative venture to bring an enhanced contactless ticketing solution to Trans Studios Makassar and Bandung, two of Indonesia’s largest indoor theme parks.

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