Richard Rolfe

The German card market is unlike any other in Europe. In contrast to the other large European economies, cards form a relatively small part of the overall payments landscape in Germany, representing just 17% of all electronic payments, or a little over half the EU-15 average, according to the European Central Bank. Instead, credit transfers and direct debits are the favored payment instruments.

Seven years after bank card issuing began, Ukraine is experiencing explosive growth in Maestro and Visa Electron card programs, spearheaded by a group of progressive banks.

Unstoppable is the only word for the performance of debit cards in Europe.

SiNSYS has launched with ambitious targets: to build up a pan-European presence and process 100 million cards within the next 10 years. Can it beat the Americans?

Card ownership and usage are reaching Western European levels in several of the countries joining the European Union next year, but the development of merchant and ATM networks still lags.

Russia has more potential for payment card growth than any other Eastern European country. What will it take for Russia's card industry to fulfill its promise?

Ayear after the decision by the United Kingdom's banking industry to implement chip- and personal identification number-based credit and debit card payments at the point of sale, banks and retailers have about 550 days to go until the Dec. 31, 2004 deadline. While a lot has been done, there remains a daunting amount to do-and retailers are adopting a variety of strategies regarding roll out and POS equipment.

Cobranded credit cards are the fastest-growing sector of the European market at present-and they may drive the acceptance of revolving credit in countries where it historically has been weak.