Société Générale has taken delivery of the first EMV-compliant payment cards in the French financial markets
Smart card supplier Gemplus began production of the new chip cards, which bear both domestic and standard EMV applications, in early January.
"The delivery of personalised EMV cards to Société Générale is not only a French first but a major milestone for EMV migration worldwide," says Justin D'Angelo, SVP at Gemplus financial services business unit. "France is the most mature market in smart card payment, and we expect to see all other countries looking to France as a reference during the course of their EMV migrations."
Under the terms of the contract, Gemplus will deliver personalised EMV-compliant payment cards to Société Générale which include the domestic B0' security application, as well as new EMV applications. The cards are being produced by the Gemplus factory in Gémenos.