BNP Paribas Le Caire, a Cairo-based subsidiary of the Paris-based bank, has launched the first contactless credit card in Egypt, the BNP Paribas Platinum MasterCard.
Cardholders may tap the card in front of a specially equipped reader to make payments of less than the equivalent of US$25 with their PayPass-equipped contactless cards.
The bank would not say how many contactless readers merchants deploy in Egypt. But as of the end of March, nearly 75 million PayPass cards had been issued worldwide usable at approximately 230,000 merchant locations, according to the bank. Consumers also may use the magnetic stripe card at 30.2 million conventional in-store terminals and ATMs globally.
The bank did not disclose the fees applied to the card.
Cardholders receive such benefits as free access to a 24/7 emergency call center, emergency cash-advance delivery worldwide, and emergency card replacement worldwide. They also receive complimentary access to VIP lounges at the airports in Cairo and Dubai.
BNP Paribas also offers free insurance, instant SMS text-message notifications, and a rewards program providing one point per Egyptian pound spent, and cardholders may redeem accumulated points for cash.
What do you think about this? Send us your feedback.
