Namibia launches smart card for tourists
07 June, 2010
category: Biometrics, Contactless, Financial
Namibia’s NAMPOST Savings Bank has launched a Tourist Smart Card designed to make visiting the country easier and safer, according to The Republikein.
The card will enable visitors to withdraw or deposit cash, pay for gas and groceries, rent cars, book hotel rooms and buy pre-paid airtime at Post Offices, as well as transfer funds to another user’s card.
Once the card is opened, cash can be loaded directly onto the chip through a Nampost bank account. At the tour’s conclusion, the account is closed and all funds on the card are transferred back overseas though Nampost.
As far as security, The Republikein says the cards are activated by the user’s fingerprint only, rending them inaccessible to thieves.
The Tourist Smart Card is available at any of Nampost’s 128 post offices around Namibia for N$50, N$15 of which is refunded to the tourist if the card is returned undamaged.
Read more here.