NCR, MasterCard, ING Bank Slaski pilot contactless ATMs in Poland
Customers in Warsaw and Katowice can withdraw cash without inserting their card
Technology company NCR has introduced contactless ATMs in Poland that allow customers to withdraw cash without inserting a card, through a joint project with MasterCard and ING Bank Slaski.
The contactless card enabled machines in the Polish cities of Katowice and Warsaw support customers with Visa and MasterCard debit contactless cards to make payments by holding their card near the ATM reader. On confirmation of their PIN code, the user can decide how much cash to withdraw.
“This technology means faster and more convenient transactions for ING Bank customers,” said Barbara Borgiel-Cury, head of accounts, payments and cards department at ING Bank Slaski. “It is not only the first installation of this kind in Poland, but also one of the first in the world. Contactless and mobile transactions are the future.”
According to NCR figures, 70% of all cards in Poland are equipped with contactless technology, and more than 50% of POS terminals accept contactless transactions. The adoption of contactless technology still has a way to go before it displaces other more traditional forms of payment, however. According to the latest edition of the European Payment Cards Yearbook, the use of cash is still growing “at a more than healthy pace”. The statistics suggest the use of cards to withdraw cash at automated teller machines has increased – with 17.3% more ATMs issuing 2% more cash during 2012.
“Growth in debit card payments is getting stronger and stronger across Europe, while credit cards are losing ground. The use of cash also continues to grow at a more than healthy pace,” Horst Förster, author of the 2012-13 edition of the yearbook. “The total growth in ATMs and cash transactions by number and by value indicates that the battle against cash is making much slower progress than intended. This bodes well for opportunities in prepaid, contactless and other online and mobile forms of electronic payment.”
