Barclaycard is gearing up for a september launch of a contactless payment card featuring Transport for London's Oyster pre-paid fare system in September, following successful technical trials of the combined card.
In December, Barclaycard won a deal with TranSys - the consortium which runs the Oyster card system - that gives it the exclusive rights to place Oyster on its Visa cards for the next three years.
Barclaycard says hundreds of cards combining Oyster with regular card payment functions have been issued and tested over the last four months. The cards have a standard chip and PIN payment system, Oyster card functionality and Visa's 'wave and pay' contactless payment technology, which will be used for low-value transactions.
The card issuer is now working with retailers to ensure terminals are ready for the autumn launch.
Libby Chambers, chief marketing officer, Barclaycard, says the card is "consumer oriented and timely": "This innovative new card has the potential to dramatically speed up the way we pay for everyday goods, and it has all the security and flexibility of a full service credit card. Merchants are excited about the way it can help them serve busy Londoners by shortening waiting time at the till."