PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MasterCard Worldwide announced today that Texas-based quick service restaurant chain, Whataburger, will accept MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM) contactless payments at more than 500 locations across southern United States. Customers will be able to use their MasterCard PayPass card or device to simply Tap & Go(TM) to pay for menu items at the counter and at the drive-thru, enabling them to make purchases quickly and conveniently. Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061031/MCLOGO ) Whataburger, recognized for its fresh, made-to-order burgers and familial customer service, operates locations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. These Whataburger locations will be equipped to accept MasterCard PayPass by September 2009. "For our regular hometown customers and the frequent road-trippers that come through our doors, MasterCard PayPass provides a faster and more convenient way to pay for their meals," said Karen Bird, chief information officer, Whataburger. "We continually look for innovative ways to enhance our customers' dining experience, whether by expanding our menu choices, or, in this case, providing greater flexibility at the point of sale." To enable PayPass acceptance, Whataburger restaurants are being deployed with Vivotech 4500M and DTc readers, integrated devices designed to accept PayPass contactless payments, as well as traditional, magnetic stripe payment cards at the counter and at the drive-thru. Customers simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card or device on the reader to make a purchase, eliminating the need to hand their card over to a cashier or fumble for cash. MasterCard PayPass also does not require customers to sign receipts for purchases under $25, further speeding up the transaction. "Busy, quick-service restaurants like Whataburger are the ideal environment for MasterCard PayPass, because the benefit of faster transactions at the point of sale translates directly to busy customers who are often on the go," said Cathleen Conforti, senior vice president, Global PayPass, MasterCard Worldwide. "By accepting MasterCard PayPass, Whataburger is taking an innovative step to enhance customer service by increasing throughput at the register and in the drive-thru." Growing usage and acceptance of contactless payments, including in small-ticket environments that are typically dominated by cash, reflect the growing consumer preference for electronic payments over cash for everyday purchases. According to MasterCard research, about 94 percent of PayPass-using respondents to a 2008 MasterCard PayPass Benchmark Study were satisfied with their experience, and 77 percent of consumers that have a PayPass-enabled card use it as their primary form of payment. About Whataburger Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since company founder Harmon Dobson opened his first Whataburger restaurant in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas. The small, wooden stand sold the enormous burgers for 25 cents each, and before the first week was over, lines stretched down the street. Visit whataburger.com for more information on the company. About MasterCard PayPass MasterCard PayPass is ideal for traditional cash-heavy environments where speed is essential, and has led the way in bringing contactless technology to consumer categories such as quick serve restaurants, drug stores, gas stations, vending machines, convenience stores, sports arenas, movie theaters, transit systems, taxis, parking garages and more. As of Q2 2009, there are nearly 61 million MasterCard PayPass cards and devices in use at over 153,000 merchants worldwide, including participating BP, Best Buy, 7-Eleven, CVS, McDonald's, Petco and many others. PayPass also is accepted at numerous professional football and baseball stadiums. For more information about MasterCard PayPass and a full list of participating merchants, visit www.mastercard.com/paypass . About MasterCard Worldwide MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com . Contacts Sarah Ely, MasterCard Worldwide +914-249-6714, sarah_ely@mastercard.com
