23.11.2017
The mobile payment revolution continues:
Erste Bank und Sparkassen to digitise credit cards
The s Mastercard by Erste Bank und Sparkassen is going digital and heading to smartphones. The initiative will see the Sparkassen Group once again become a digital pioneer, being the first in Austria to launch HCE-based contactless payment on the market.
A digital credit card on your mobile
Customers of Erste Bank and Sparkassen can now use their Android smartphone to make contactless payments or withdrawals at automated terminals worldwide. The existing s Mastercard is simply digitised in the George Go app, enabling people to have a 100% reproduction of their credit card on their mobile phone, with limits, pin code and expiry date all identical to those of the plastic card. The tedious task of replacing SIM cards, as was customary in previous solutions, no longer applies, and users can get started immediately. “We have taken maximum security and user-friendliness when paying by mobile to a new level”, says Thomas Schaufler, Chief Retail Officer at Erste Bank Oesterreich.
Requirements for the s mobile credit card:
- an s Mastercard
- an NFC-enabled smartphone with Android version 4.4. or higher
- the George Go app
Payments at check-outs are then simply made by holding the smartphone against the NFC-enabled payment terminal. The app itself does not need to be opened; the mobile phone must just be unlocked, and have its NFC function activated. The s Mastercard is defined only once when being set up as a standard payment method in the George Go app. As Apple does not approve the NFC interface in its devices for third parties, the solution is so far only available on smartphones using the Android operating system.
Even more secure with HCE technology
This is all made possible by HCE technology (Host Card Emulation). HCE means digitising a physical card onto an Android smartphone and giving it a token, which is a unique reference to the physical card. The advantage of this solution is that card details are no longer shared with the retailer when paying, thereby minimising damages from potential data theft. “Next year, we will also be digitising other credit cards and the normal ATM card, and in doing so further developing contactless mobile payments”, Schaufler adds.
Premiere in Austria
Their new product makes Erste Bank und Sparkassen the first establishment in Austria to use Mastercard’s digitisation service (MDES), which has already proven its worth at an international level. “We’re proud of being able to secure such an innovative partner for the Austrian premiere of a digitised Mastercard”, says a pleased Gerald Gruber, General Manager Mastercard Austria.
Requirements for the s mobile credit card:
- an s Mastercard
- an NFC-enabled smartphone with Android version 4.4. or higher
- the George Go app
Payments at check-outs are then simply made by holding the smartphone against the NFC-enabled payment terminal. The app itself does not need to be opened; the mobile phone must just be unlocked, and have its NFC function activated. The s Mastercard is defined only once when being set up as a standard payment method in the George Go app. As Apple does not approve the NFC interface in its devices for third parties, the solution is so far only available on smartphones using the Android operating system.
Even more secure with HCE technology
This is all made possible by HCE technology (Host Card Emulation). HCE means digitising a physical card onto an Android smartphone and giving it a token, which is a unique reference to the physical card. The advantage of this solution is that card details are no longer shared with the retailer when paying, thereby minimising damages from potential data theft. “Next year, we will also be digitising other credit cards and the normal ATM card, and in doing so further developing contactless mobile payments”, Schaufler adds.
Premiere in Austria
Their new product makes Erste Bank und Sparkassen the first establishment in Austria to use Mastercard’s digitisation service (MDES), which has already proven its worth at an international level. “We’re proud of being able to secure such an innovative partner for the Austrian premiere of a digitised Mastercard”, says a pleased Gerald Gruber, General Manager Mastercard Austria.