IMGCAP(1)]
Barclaycard has begun issuing Visa-branded contactless "gold" and "classic" credit cards, the latest step in the United Kingdom-based issuer's push to put millions of contactless cards into customers' hands. The issuer, an arm of UK-based Barclays PLC, already has issued some 2 million contactless cards to consumers with OnePulse, platinum and Goldfish cards, a Barclaycard spokesperson tells CardLine Global. Barclaycard has issued more than 4 million gold and classic Visa cards. When those customers receive new or replacement cards, the plastic will include a contactless chip. The bank's contactless push in the UK has focused on the London area, but the spokesperson says the acceptance of contactless payments by such "big name" merchants as Pret a Manger, Coffee Republic and Yo Sushi is helping to spread the technology beyond the British capital. "As more retailers sign up to contactless outside of London, more consumers are opting to receive contactless-enabled cards," the spokesperson says.
