MBNA switching 6 million customers to contactless by 2012
24 January, 2011
category: Contactless
MBNA, the UK’s largest credit card provider, is kicking off its two-year initiative to move its 6 million customers to contactless cards by January 2012.
MBNA says it will start by issuing a new contactless credit card each time a new or replacement card request is made by a customer.
Ian O’Doherty, Europe Card executive for Bank of America, operator of the MBNA brand, comments: “With this two-year rollout of new and replacement contactless enabled cards we are reinforcing our support for the evolution of contactless technology in the UK.”
According to MBNA, the number of retailers supporting contactless technology is rapidly increasing in the UK, with the estimated number of existing compatible cards reaching ten million. This figure is expected to hit 25 million by 2012 as more card issuers adopt the technology.
Current contactless retailers in the UK include Subway, Pret a Manger, Cafe Nero, Clinton Cards, Boots, Spar, National Trust gift shops and Little Chef restaurants.