Innovative physical and virtual Digital First payment card is one of the first in Europe
Fintech payment service provider Paynetics AD, digital banking platforms provider phyre and Bulgarian telecoms provider VIVACOM have today launched the Mastercard Digital First card. It is the first payment card of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and one of the first Digital First cards in Europe. VIVACOM is the first telecom which has launched a Digital First card in the CEE region.
The service provides access to a virtual payment card in the digital Pay by VIVACOM wallet, as well as a physical card with all the functionalities of a contactless card but with greater security, better control and a clean minimalist design.
For the convenience and security of users, only the name of the cardholder is written on the physical card and no sensitive information is included. The unique 16-digit number (PAN) and the CVC code for online card payments are stored in the digital wallet only, and the cardholder alone has access to it by using their biometric data or passcode. This prevents the possibility of misuse – in the instance of loss or theft, the card cannot be used at an ATM or for online purchases, and the user can “lock” it with one click in the application.
This new product meets the changing needs of the moder consumer: Mastercard data confirms that with the growing digitalisation of the banking industry, people are looking for security now more than ever, citing it as one of the most important criteria for using digital banking services (69%). At the same time, 44% of consumers note the convenience and speed as a major factor in the use of these services. Nearly two-thirds (68%) believe that the demand for mobile financial solutions will increase in the future, as they make operations easy and convenient.
Antonina Martinova, CEO, Paynetics, commented: “We’re proud to have worked on this innovative new Digital First card with phyre, Mastercard and VIVACOM, which directly responds to consumer’s demands for safer and more convenient payment methods. Once again, we’ve proven that with a lot of hard work and collaboration you can be a leader in the payments industry at both a European and world level, even if you are from a small country and a less developed market.”
“This product is a further testament to the fact that Bulgaria is fast becoming one of the most established fintech hubs in Europe”, said Ivo Gueorguiev, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Paynetics. “We’re excited to bring such an innovative payment solution to market and to take this technology to the rest of the region, as we continue our mission to streamline payments processes for businesses and empower them as they digitally transform.”
About Paynetics
Founded by financial sector veteran Ivo Gueorguiev and serial entrepreneur Valeri Valtchev, Paynetics is an e-money institution, providing end-to-end payment services across the EU. As a principal member of Mastercard, VISA, SWIFT and SEPA, the company is able to serve all payment needs of its clients, including card acceptance and issuance, account management and bank transfers, as well e-wallet solutions.
Please find more information at https://www.paynetics.digital/
About phyre
phyre is a mobile app that turns your phone into a digital wallet. You can use it to easily shop anywhere with a POS and online. At the same time you can store all of your loyalty cards in the app and use them directly from your phone. phyre also allows you to send and receive money instantly and with no fees within the community. Pay and track spending to optimise your budget. Install phyre for iOS and Android and start for free.
Please find more information at https://www.phyreapp.com/en/about
About VIVACOM
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, operating under the brand name VIVACOM, is the largest integrated telecommunications company in Bulgaria in terms of total revenues for 7 consecutive years. It offers voice services, high-speed mobile and fixed broadband, interactive and satellite TV as well as innovative solutions for IoT, smart cities, digital education and cloud services.
For more information, please visit www.vivacom.bg
Media contact
Media contact: paynetics@hardnumbers.co.uk