German credit card processor GZS and financial firms Concardis and Euro Kartensysteme have begun distributing the country's first EMV chip-based MasterCards, using cards supplied by Munich-based Giesecke & Devrient (G&D).
The roll out is part of a pilot project involving staff from all three firms. As well as supplying cards, G&D also provided personalisation services.
The MasterCards have been processed using a high-security, multi-functional secure chip card operating system (Seccos). The platform was originally developed by Germany's ZKA Central Banking Committee as a platform for debit cards, but is now being used for the first time for credit cards. The system allows additional applications to be added to cards beyond EMV, including electronic purse functions.
The cards also feature a Tan Generator, which digitally generates and saves transaction numbers.
Michael Kuemmerle, head of G&D's payments division, says: "This project has taken us here in Germany a further step forward towards EMV migration."