Today, prime minister Balkenende and President Venetiaan received the first Prepaid Transfercard from Interpay and Surpost, the Surinam postal company.
The presentation of the Prepaid Transfercard took place in the presidential palace in Paramaribo, within the framework of Surinam's 30 years of independence. The card is the electronic alternative for cash and paper international money orders and thus fulfills an important function in monetary transactions between the Netherlands and Surinam.
Interpay and Surpost developed the Prepaid Transfercard in order to enhance convenience, safety and speed when transferring money to, for instance, family in Surinam. Rather than sending cash or a money order, the sending party deposits the money in a central account. The recipient in Surinam then withdraws the money or makes payments using the Prepaid Transfercard. With this card, Interpay and Surpost respond to the G8's demand - issued during the Lima conference in 2004 - to make international money transfer through the regular banking channels accessible for a wider group of people. Other countries have already shown interest for the Prepaid Transfercard.
The Prepaid Transfercard is one of the three new payment cards that Interpay launches under the name Prepaid Services. Besides the Prepaid Transfercard, Interpay also provides the Prepaid Giftcard and the Prepaid Pluscard. De Prepaid Giftcard is the electronic answer to the paper gift voucher. The Prepaid Pluscard gives organisations that regularly make cash payments, such as temporary employment and social service agencies, the opportunity to offer their clients a debit card with a spending limit. With Prepaid Services, Interpay responds to an increasing demand for payment products that reduce cash payments.