The UK's Nationwide Building Society has contracted with US electronic payments processor Tsys for credit card processing services and the construction, operation and management of a call centre.
Tsys replaces rival outfit First Data as the Building Society's card processor, in a seven and a half year deal. The vendor will begin servicing Nationwide's million plus credit card Visa accounts in early 2008.
The customer care centre, currently being built in Coventry, is due to open in the first quarter of 2008 and will be able to house 300 agents.
Alex Bannister, head of banking and credit cards, Nationwide, says: "By joining forces with Tsys we are able to offer enhanced products and processes while providing greater member value through annual cost savings."
commenting on the contract, Kelley Knutson, group executive, global services, Tsys, says: "Tsys has enjoyed similar relationships with some of the largest member-owned credit unions in the United States for many years, and we understand the critical distinctions that engender such strong loyalty from their members."