Millions of MBNA Credit Cards to go 'Contactless'
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:07:01 AM
Millions of MBNA Credit Cards to go 'Contactless'
CHESTER, England, October 29, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- With Photo
MBNA, Europe's largest credit card lender, today begins a two-year
programme to roll out contactless credit cards for its millions of UK
customers.
MBNA's commitment means that more than five million MBNA-issued credit
cards will have contactless technology1 by the end of 2011. That is in
addition to around ten million contactless enabled credit and debit cards
already in the UK market - a total that could rise to 25 million by 20122.
MBNA will support the evolution of contactless payments in the UK by
ensuring all new and replacement MBNA credit cards are compliant with the
simple-to-use payment function. To use the card, customers simply touch the
card at payment terminals that display the contactless symbol, without the
need to enter their PIN number.
Ian O'Doherty, Europe Card executive for Bank of America, which operates
the MBNA brand, said: "With this two-year roll out of new and replacement
contactless enabled cards we are reinforcing our support for the evolution of
contactless technology in the UK.
"We are committed to offering simplicity, added value and choice in all
of our products and services - enabling our customers to use contactless
payments is a fantastic example of making that commitment a reality."
An MBNA survey of more than 1,000 credit card users3 reveals that the
public is overwhelmingly positive about contactless technology and the
benefits it gives them - notably speed and ease of use.
Eighty per cent of those surveyed agreed it would help save time in
queues when paying for items, and 69 per cent believe the emerging technology
will make their lives easier and benefit consumers (63.5 per cent) and
businesses (78 per cent).
MBNA has added layers of security to their cards. For example,
contactless cards cannot be used until a PIN is entered on first use;
payments are limited to up to GBP15 per transaction; and customers will
occasionally be asked to enter their PIN number to ensure the transactions
are valid. In addition, MBNA customers who are innocent victims of fraud or
theft are fully protected on their credit cards.
Customers do not need to do anything, as their new or replacement cards
will be automatically converted to contactless when they are re-issued.
The cards will be compatible with both Mastercard and Visa payment
systems.
Pick-up among businesses is gathering pace, with Subway, Prêt a Manger
and Caffé Nero, among others, already having the payment terminals installed.
A host of big-name retailers are either trialing the technology or rolling it
out, including the Co-op, Boots, Spar, National Trust gift
shops and Little Chef restaurants. Many more well known retailers are
expected to launch contactless technology soon.
1 Contactless payments enable customers to use a convenient alternative
to low-value cash for payments of GBP15 or less. It makes paying for goods
and services much quicker because it involves holding a card against a reader
rather than inserting the card in a chip and PIN machine and entering a PIN.
2 For industry statistics and more information about contactless credit
cards visit http://www.contactless.info/Home.asp.
3 The research for MBNA was carried out online by Opinion Matters between
04/10/2010 and 08/10/2010 among a panel of 1,000 respondents all of whom are
credit card holders. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of
Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines.
About MBNA Europe Bank
MBNA Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation
(NYSE: BAC) and is the recognized leader in affinity marketing.
For more information, visit the company's website at
http://www.mbna.co.uk or Bank of America's website at
http://www.bankofamerica.com
Editor and supplementary notes:
The information contained in MBNA Europe's press releases is intended
solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial
decisions. Any consumer interested in finding out more about any of MBNA
Europe's products should visit http://www.mbna.co.uk for full terms and
conditions.
A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.
Source: MBNA Europe Bank Ltd
For further information, contact: Gary Jenkins, Vice President - Communications, Bank of America Europe Card Services, Tel: +44(0)1244-574136, Mobile: +44(0)7825-721118, Fax: +44(0)1244-672468, Email: gary.jenkins@mbna.com
CHESTER, England, October 29, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- With Photo
MBNA, Europe's largest credit card lender, today begins a two-year
programme to roll out contactless credit cards for its millions of UK
customers.
MBNA's commitment means that more than five million MBNA-issued credit
cards will have contactless technology1 by the end of 2011. That is in
addition to around ten million contactless enabled credit and debit cards
already in the UK market - a total that could rise to 25 million by 20122.
MBNA will support the evolution of contactless payments in the UK by
ensuring all new and replacement MBNA credit cards are compliant with the
simple-to-use payment function. To use the card, customers simply touch the
card at payment terminals that display the contactless symbol, without the
need to enter their PIN number.
Ian O'Doherty, Europe Card executive for Bank of America, which operates
the MBNA brand, said: "With this two-year roll out of new and replacement
contactless enabled cards we are reinforcing our support for the evolution of
contactless technology in the UK.
"We are committed to offering simplicity, added value and choice in all
of our products and services - enabling our customers to use contactless
payments is a fantastic example of making that commitment a reality."
An MBNA survey of more than 1,000 credit card users3 reveals that the
public is overwhelmingly positive about contactless technology and the
benefits it gives them - notably speed and ease of use.
Eighty per cent of those surveyed agreed it would help save time in
queues when paying for items, and 69 per cent believe the emerging technology
will make their lives easier and benefit consumers (63.5 per cent) and
businesses (78 per cent).
MBNA has added layers of security to their cards. For example,
contactless cards cannot be used until a PIN is entered on first use;
payments are limited to up to GBP15 per transaction; and customers will
occasionally be asked to enter their PIN number to ensure the transactions
are valid. In addition, MBNA customers who are innocent victims of fraud or
theft are fully protected on their credit cards.
Customers do not need to do anything, as their new or replacement cards
will be automatically converted to contactless when they are re-issued.
The cards will be compatible with both Mastercard and Visa payment
systems.
Pick-up among businesses is gathering pace, with Subway, Prêt a Manger
and Caffé Nero, among others, already having the payment terminals installed.
A host of big-name retailers are either trialing the technology or rolling it
out, including the Co-op, Boots, Spar, National Trust gift
shops and Little Chef restaurants. Many more well known retailers are
expected to launch contactless technology soon.
1 Contactless payments enable customers to use a convenient alternative
to low-value cash for payments of GBP15 or less. It makes paying for goods
and services much quicker because it involves holding a card against a reader
rather than inserting the card in a chip and PIN machine and entering a PIN.
2 For industry statistics and more information about contactless credit
cards visit http://www.contactless.info/Home.asp.
3 The research for MBNA was carried out online by Opinion Matters between
04/10/2010 and 08/10/2010 among a panel of 1,000 respondents all of whom are
credit card holders. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of
Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines.
About MBNA Europe Bank
MBNA Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation
(NYSE: BAC) and is the recognized leader in affinity marketing.
For more information, visit the company's website at
http://www.mbna.co.uk or Bank of America's website at
http://www.bankofamerica.com
Editor and supplementary notes:
The information contained in MBNA Europe's press releases is intended
solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial
decisions. Any consumer interested in finding out more about any of MBNA
Europe's products should visit http://www.mbna.co.uk for full terms and
conditions.
A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.
Source: MBNA Europe Bank Ltd
For further information, contact: Gary Jenkins, Vice President - Communications, Bank of America Europe Card Services, Tel: +44(0)1244-574136, Mobile: +44(0)7825-721118, Fax: +44(0)1244-672468, Email: gary.jenkins@mbna.com