(Oslo 29.01.03) Nordea Norge and SpareBank 1 Gruppen have signed contracts with EDB Business Partner' s wholly owned subsidiary EDB Fellesdata for software to allow the use of international smart cards in their minibank networks. The two contracts each run for three years, and are for broadly similar amounts. The contracts are worth around NOK 24 million in total. Operating services for the software will be linked to existing contracts with these customers.

 

Nordea Norge and SpareBank 1 Gruppen intend to upgrade their minibanks and ATMs to accept smart cards using the international (EMV) standard as part of their commitment to reducing card fraud.

"Nordea Norge and SpareBank 1 have each decided to adapt their self-service solutions to accept EMV cards", explains Ole Trasti, Managing Director of EDB Fellesdata.

 

EMV is an international standard for smart cards (chip cards) developed by Europay, MasterCard and Visa in order to reduce card fraud and misuse. Europay and Visa aim to eventually replace all Visa and MasterCard cards with EMV cards, and all minibank ATMs must be ready to accept the new cards by 1 January 2005.

 

"EDB Fellesdata's software for minibanks and ATMs, as well as its systems for processing card transactions for self-service solutions, are fully ready and certified for the use of EMV cards. The move to the EMV standard internationally will play a very important role in improving card security and reducing losses from card fraud.

Adapting our systems for the EMV standard represents an important element in the development of the international payment systems we offer. By developing systems components to incorporate new international standards we can help our customers implement more automated and efficient payment services", comments Ole Trasti, Managing Director of EDB Fellesdata.