Working in association with MetaBank, Visa USA has issued its first contactless pre-paid cards.
As of this month, the Visa Contactless prepaid cards became available to clients of Meta Payment Systems, MetaBank's prepaid card division.
The cards, which can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, are embedded with a radio-frequency chip that allows consumers to make a contactless transaction by holding their card in front of a reader at checkout, instead of swiping it or handing it to a cashier.
Todd Brockman, senior vice president, prepaid products, Visa USA, says: "Adding the contactless feature to pre-paid cards offers Visa and our stakeholders the opportunity to capture an even greater share of cash and cheque spends while responding to consumers' continued desire for innovative electronic payments."
He says the cards provide the same security protections as regular payment cards, including zero liability for fraudulent charges and Visa's anti-fraud technology.
Brad Hanson, EVP, MetaBank and president of Meta Payment Systems, says: "The Visa contactless pre-paid card provides consumers with a safer and more convenient payment alternative to cash and cheques, as well as the speed and efficiency of contactless payments."