Smart Bits: Benefits Transfer Program Uses Proton Card

Banksys, the Belgian payment systems company, said it has begun the first Proton smart card program in the electronic benefits transfer field.

The service provided by Federation des Mutuelles Socialistes de Brabant, or FMSB, involves reimbursement of health-care expenses on Proton stored- value cards at machines in offices of the state-sponsored health-care agency.

Proton World International, the joint smart card venture that began at Banksys in 1995 and was partially spun off last year to Visa International and three other companies, said FMSB has historically been in the forefront of computerization and smart card innovations.

By eliminating cash payments, the 480,000-member FMSB lowers administrative costs and averts what had become a serious robbery problem in its offices, Proton World said.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER