Visa Europe plans to increase V.me digital wallet use this year by getting more U.K. issuers and retailers involved in the online payment service.
More than half of the U.K.'s issuing base, at 55% and representing 60 million cardholders, has committed to roll out V.me before the end of 2015, Visa Europe states in a May 5 press release. Thousands of the country's large and small retailers are also on board to accept V.me.
Visa and Nationwide Building Society launched V.me in the U.K. two years ago. In the U.S., Visa Inc. rebranded the V.me wallet as
Arcadia Group, which owns Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Wallis, Miss Selfridge and Evans, has committed to accept V.me. Other e-commerce merchants Iceland, bathstore and Costco.co.uk will also accept V.me.
Visa Europe is looking to V.me to serve the growing number of consumers planning to spend more online, Wendy Martin, executive director for V.me by Visa, stated in the release.
V.me's growing availability "will make online shopping particularly checking out easier, quicker and safer for the consumer," Martin said.
Since 2004, Visa Europe has been independent of Visa Inc., operating as a payments technology business operated by member banks and other payments providers from 37 countries across Europe.
