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HSBC Bank A.S., the Turkish subsidiary of United Kingdom-based HSBC Bank PLC, will use technology from On Track Innovation Ltd. for a contactless-payment initiative, the Israeli vendor said Monday. On Track says the Turkish bank already has placed orders for such contactless-payment devices as key fobs and stickers, the latter of which consumers can attach to mobile phones and similar equipment. Firms from around the world recently have stepped up efforts to issue stickers, which some observers and backers consider to be a "bridge" to Near Field Communication, which relies on chips inside phones to enable contactless payments and short-range information downloads. OTI did not say how many contactless devices the bank intends to issue, and immediate comment from both companies was not available Monday. The bank's contactless program will use MasterCard Worldwide's PayPass contactless application. Contactless purchases of less than 35 Turkish lira (US$23 or 16 euros) will not require signatures from HSBC customers. The bank says the program, which its calls "Advantage Hizz," will enable consumers to make contactless payments in 4,000 merchant locations. The Israeli firm also is providing payment terminals for the program. Earlier this month, On Track said a Turkish transit firm was using similar stickers for contactless fare payments on buses (CardLine Global, 5 June). The Turkish bank has 3 million customers.
