United Nations Federal Credit Union Selects Gemalto for First U.S. Issued Globally Compliant Payment Card

 

AUSTIN, TX, May 13, 2010 - Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, today announced it has been selected by the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) to deliver the first U.S. issued, globally compliant microprocessor payment card. UNFCU recognized the need of their members, who reside and frequently travel to more than 210 countries and territories, to have a more convenient and secure payment option when traveling internationally. Partnering with Gemalto, UNFCU will be able to provide a globally compliant Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) standard based Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA) contact and contactless dual interface card that can be used anytime - anywhere their members travel. UNFCU anticipates introducing the program in the second half of 2010.
 
With most countries around the world moving to EMV based payment for greater security, U.S. travelers are increasingly having trouble using magnetic stripe bankcards abroad, especially in offline applications like taxis, unattended ticketing and payment kiosks. UNFCU is the first U.S. card issuer to provide a globally compliant payment card option to their members. UNFCU is taking advantage of Gemalto’s recently announced World Traveler program in which Gemalto will provide UNFCU with complete issuance service including full card design and production, personalization data preparation and personalization of the dual interface card ensuring global acceptance and forward compatibility for both online and offline payment transactions.
 
“Wanting to meet the needs of our highly mobile and often remotely located international membership base, we selected Gemalto as a solution for payment card global compatibility and ongoing safety,” said Merrill Halpern, Card Services Manager at UNFCU, who noted the institution’s long history of product innovation, focus on security and convenience, and responding to member feedback.  “We selected Gemalto based upon their expertise in payment process integration and their ability to provide all of the associated services, like SMS-based Personal Identification Number (PIN) reminder service if a cardholder forgets their PIN and global emergency card replacement if the card is lost or stolen. This ensures the best possible experience for our cardholders.”
 
“Cardholders naturally expect to be able to use their payment card anywhere in the world,” said Jack Jania, vice president and general manager Secure Transactions North America.  “By partnering with Gemalto, UNFCU leveraged Gemalto’s ability to work with payment institutions around the planet to quickly achieve worldwide compatibility. This ensures the microprocessor payment card issued to their members is globally accepted, keeping their payment card top of wallet, most convenient both when traveling and when at home.”
 
For more information on payment challenges abroad:
* “For Americans, Plastic Buys Less Abroad,” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/travel/04pracchip.html?_r=3&hpw
** The Broken Promise of Pay Anywhere, Anytime: The Experience of the U.S. Cardholder
Abroad - September 2009 Aite Group online survey of 1,019 U.S. resident cardholders that traveled to countries outside of Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico between 2006 and 2009.   The report can be found at http://www.aitegroup.com/reports/200910261.php. 


About United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU)
UNFCU is a cooperative financial institution with more than US $3.1 billion in assets, which has served the financial needs of the United Nations community since 1947. UNFCU offers a wide array of flexible savings, loan, investment and insurance products, as well as advisory services. Membership is open to staff of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, retirees and their families. UNFCU members reside in 212 countries and territories. Headquartered and with branches in New York City, UNFCU has Representative Offices in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Nairobi, Kenya, and Rome, Italy. For more information about UNFCU, please visit its website at www.unfcu.org.

Contact:
Elisabeth Philippe
347-686-6776
ephilippe@unfcu.com

 

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2009 annual revenues of €1.65 billion, and over 10 thousand employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 41 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.



Gemalto Media Contacts:
 
Ray WIZBOWSKI
512-257-3950
raymond.wizbowski@gemalto.com 		 Deb Montner
Montner & Associates
+1 203 226-9290
dmontner@montner.com