Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, together with DeviceFidelity, Inc., leading Near Field Communications (NFC) plug-and-play technology solution provider, recently announced that U.S. Bank will be using technology and personalization services from the two companies to roll out a new contactless mobile payment beta called U.S. Bank Go Mobile Payment Service.
Targeted to frequent travelers, the bank’s pilot new program will offer customers in the FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa® credit card program a new mobile payment option. Along with their card, customers who opt-in for the service will also receive an iPhone case that ultimately turns their iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S into an NFC-enabled payment device.
“U.S. Bank was one of the first financial institutions in the nation to explore microSD contactless mobile payments in 2010 when we conducted an employee pilot of the technology,” said Dominic Venturo, chief innovation officer for U.S. Bank Payment Services. “That experience helped us better understand what customers might expect from their mobile device and how they might use their iPhones as payment devices.”
The iPhone case, manufactured and patented by DeviceFidelity and called the iCaisse4X, is equipped with a microNFC card – which along with U.S. Bank’s Go Mobile application – provides rich digital wallet capabilities to customers. The iCaisse4X is the only iPhone solution certified by all major payment networks to meet their stringent security and performance requirements, and the unique design incorporates a portable secure element embedded into the microNFC card.
“Success of mobile payments and NFC relies heavily on a program that offers viable consumer benefit along with piece of mind that the service is offered by a leading financial institution they can trust,” said Amitaabh Malhotra, chief operating officer at DeviceFidelity. “The U.S Bank solution combines the essential elements of convenience and the security of smart card technology, along with loyalty, frequent use and mobility for a consumer program to be successful.”
Additionally, all the cardholder personalization for this program—including the personalization of the microNFC card and the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card—will all be done with Datacard® secure issuance solutions. This enables U.S. Bank to use the same personalization technology without making major infrastructure changes to their current card program.
“Mobile payment programs are beginning to be implemented throughout the globe and U.S. Bank is on the forefront of this trend,” said Russell St. John, senior vice president of global marketing for Datacard Group. “We are very pleased that U.S. Bank has selected Datacard Group as their partner of choice for the personalization process based on the security, efficiency and an integrated infrastructure we were able to provide. Together, U.S. Bank, DeviceFidelity and Datacard Group are creating and implementing innovative solutions built in a global, digital and highly connected marketplace.”
