Press Releases 2005
CTL brings Interest-Free Instalment Schemes to Cyprus
S. Europe
PRIME PERSO
CTL wins
processing contract for Trade Bank of Iraq
National
Bank of Abu Dhabi Upgrades to CTL’s PRIME 3.0
CTL
successfully implements another Shari’a compliant card
programme
CTL brings Interest-Free Instalment
Schemes to Cyprus
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, December 23, 2005
Card Tech Limited (CTL), a UK-based
bankcard systems provider, uses its leading technology to introduce
Interest-Free Instalment Payment Schemes to Cyprus.
Empowered by CTL’s PRIME Instalment solution, Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank have just rolled out a new instalment program to provide credit card holders with an attractive alternative payment option at Point of Sale (POS). Another participant in the scheme, Laiki Bank, is also deploying CTL Instalment technology.
The scheme, which runs in conjunction with JCC's electronic terminals, enables merchants with accounts at either bank, to offer their clients the option of paying for goods through interest-free instalments. Instead of an immediate transaction for the total cost of purchase, the amount is simply split into equal monthly instalments without incurring additional interest charges that are traditionally built into loan or higher purchase payments.
Mr Eric Boutros, Head of Information Technology at Hellenic Bank in Cyprus, added "With CTL's highly parameterized technology, our clients can dictate the details of their interest-free instalment repayments; they can choose from a number of instalment schemes that suit their needs, and can even specify the date of their first instalment."
The scheme, which is rich in benefits for both merchants and cardholders, has experienced great success in Greece over the past 2 years. Coupled with the launch of the Banks’ aggressive marketing campaigns and complementary Points Schemes, offering added incentives, the initial results from the Cyprus market are equally encouraging.
Petros Petrou, General Manager at Laiki Bank in Cyprus, said "Interest-free monthly instalments present customers with a whole new way of using their cards by extending their buying power. In cooperation with CTL, Laiki Group intends to further develop its instalment options to the Cyprus market."
"CTL’s reputation as a leading global solution provider in the card payments industry derives from 15 years of delivering cutting-edge technology to the banking sector; CTL’s PRIME INSTALMENTS product is just another example of how our innovative technology can leverage new business for our clients," said Edith Kessler-Charalambous, General Manager Business Expansion at CTL.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 190 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions. Our
software and processing service addresses every aspect of the card
management business cycle. They include card issuance, merchant
acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN
management, e-commerce and fraud management, and are developed and
supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
About Laiki Group
Founded in 1901, Laiki Group is today one of the leading financial
institutions in Cyprus, offering a wide range of financial services.
Laiki Group attaches strategic importance to the internationalisation of its activities giving special emphasis on the expansion into the Greek market and countries where the Greek element is strong. Today, the Group’s branch network includes 114 branches in Cyprus, 48 in Greece, 6 in the UK and 8 in Australia and representative offices in S. Africa, Canada, the USA, Moscow and Belgrade. It has also introduced Laiki eBank, the first electronic bank in Cyprus and Greece, offering full electronic banking services.
Laiki Bank was declared Bank of the Year 2004 by the prestigious banking magazine The Banker Financial Times. This award was the crowning of the many distinctions achieved by the Group in the previous months; including the international distinction for the electronic banking services (Laiki eBank) by the Institute of Financial Services and the award for the Technology and Information Service by the European Foundation for Quality Management.
About Hellenic Bank Group
Hellenic Bank Group commenced operations in 1976, and in a
relatively short period of time managed to establish itself as one of
the biggest banking and financial institutions in Cyprus.
The success of the Group, in the context of an intensely competitive market, is based on exemplary customer service, a wide range of products and services and implementation of the latest technology.
In March 1996, the Group acquired the onshore operations of Barclays Bank in Cyprus. The enlarged Hellenic Bank Group now employs over 1,700 employees. This expansion enabled the dissemination of a broader range of products and services across a wider branch network. Alongside the traditional banking operations, the Group also provides a wide range of financial services.
CTL Contact:
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager Business Expansion
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, November 2, 2005
Card Tech Limited (CTL), a UK- based leader in the global payments
industry, today announced the appointment of Colum Rafferty as Regional
Business Development Manager for Southern Europe.
As part of CTL’s European expansion strategy, Colum will be responsible
for adding to CTL’s existing client portfolio, developing new business
opportunities and strengthening business alliances in Italy, Spain and
the Benelux region.
With an extensive experience in card issuing and acquiring, Colum will
focus on developing CTL’s expanding portfolio of card payment systems,
including solutions for Prepaid Cards and Interest-free Instalments,
aimed at increasing consumer loyalty and merchant acquisition.
Colum benefits from 25 years experience and an in-depth knowledge of the
European card payments industry. Prior to working at CTL, he worked for
euroConex, S1 Corporation, and Experian UK Ltd. as Business Development
Director overseeing the markets in Italy, Spain, Holland and Turkey.
Edith Kessler–Charalambous, General Manager Business Expansion, said
“The appointment of Colum as Regional Business Development Manager for
Southern Europe demonstrates our strong commitment to the region and is
an acknowledgement of our firm positioning in these evolving markets.
CTL has a sophisticated product portfolio which targets market segments
and fully supports business growth through cross border issuance and
acquiring in any multi-country, multi-currency, multi-lingual and
multi-institutional environment.”
CTL’s history in the European Cards and Payment Industry spans 15 years.
Its flagship product, PRIME, is a leading card and merchant management
system which is utilised in over 70 countries around the globe. Its
reputation for delivering best of breed solutions, innovative technology
and customised product offerings derives from its diverse customer base
of over 190 clients
About Card tech Limited
More than 190 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions.
Our software and processing service includes card issuance, merchant
acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN
management, e-commerce and fraud management, addressing every aspect of
the card management business cycle. They are developed and supported by
a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment
association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every
implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
.
CTL Contact:
Colum Rafferty
Regional Business Development Manager, S Europe
Colum.Rafferty@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
Qatar National Bank signs contract with Card Tech Limited for PRIME 3.0
Press Release from the CTL Press Office
, October 3, 2005Qatar National Bank (QNB) today announced the signing of an agreement with Card Tech Limited (CTL) for an upgrade to PRIME 3.0, the latest version of CTL's leading card management system, and for M/chip and Visa Smart Debit Credit (VSDC) certification.
Voted ‘Best Bank in Qatar’ this year, by both The Banker and Global Finance magazines as well as being the recipient of the ‘JPMorgan Chase Elite Quality Recognition Award,’ QNB relies heavily on the operational efficiency and outstanding performance of its bankcard systems. Its decision to upgrade to PRIME 3.0 factored in the system's support for EMV, enhanced functionalities, increased scalability and flexibility.
Mohammed Ali Al-Khulaifi, Assistant General Manager, Retail Operations at QNB, said "As the largest bank in Qatar, it is very important that our business evolves in-line with our clients’ needs and market change. CTL remains our trusted systems provider because it continues to offer us the security of a stable platform coupled with the flexibility for future growth.’
Marwan Marouf Mahmoud, Assistant General Manager, Information Technology at QNB, added "PRIME 3.0 offered major improvements over its predecessor. It's an open system enabling easy integration with existing bank and third party interfaces, and runs on the Oracle database featuring enhanced multi-institution, workflow and case management. This combination with full support for EMV chip card programs, made it an attractive package for QNB."
Edith Kessler-Charalambous, General Manager – Business Expansion at CTL, has witnessed the remarkable pace at which CTL has accumulated experience in dealing with the EMV certification process. She said, "CTL is chosen as a trusted partner by banks in the Middle East because we specialise in all aspects of the card payment business cycle, including migration to EMV compliance. Our technical staff posses a high level of expertise in their fields, and this is transmitted to our clients through a smooth project delivery and an enhanced product portfolio."
CTL’s presence in the Middle East spans 15 years, during which it has maintained long-standing client relationships with over 24 Banks, of which 12, rank in the top 4 in their own countries. Each client is supported locally from CTL’s office in Dubai and globally from CTL’s 24 hour support service facility.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 190 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions. Our software
and processing service addresses every aspect of the card management
business cycle. They include card issuance, merchant acquiring,
authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management,
e-commerce and fraud management, and are developed and supported by a
dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
About Qatar National Bank
QNB was established in 1964 as the country's first Qatari-owned commercial bank. The ownership structure is split between the Government of Qatar (50%) and the private sector (50%). QNB has grown to become the largest bank in Qatar controlling assets representing approximately 50% of the total banking system. QNB has the largest distribution network in the country with 32 local branches and offices, two international branches in London and Paris and 70 ATM's. QNB provides a full range of commercial banking activities for individuals, corporate institutions and government entities and the Bank's scope of products, services and delivery channels across all disciplines is unrivalled.
QNB has the highest credit rating among Qatari banks from leading rating agencies including Moody's, Fitch and Capital Intelligence. QNB is among the top 10 regional banks by Shareholders' Equity, with a ranking of 7th among the largest GCC banks as per MEES survey in September 2004. Internationally, it is ranked as 77th among the Top 250 Emerging Market Banks as per Euromoney survey in August 2004. Additionally, QNB has been the recipient of the award "Best Bank in Qatar" from leading international financial publications including: The Banker, Euromoney and Global Finance.
CTL Contact:
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager - Business Expansion
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
ww.ctl.com
QNB Contact:
Ali Abdul Ghani
Manager, Public Relations
Corporate Communication
ali.ghani@qnb.com.qa
Press Release from the CTL Press Office, September 1, 2005.
Card Tech Limited (CTL), a UK-based leader in the payments industry, today announced the successful implementation of its worldwide proven PRIME card and merchant management solution at Lanka-Bangla Finance Limited (LBF), Bangladesh. LBF has taken a great leap as a world class player in the card operation and multi-processing arena with the help of CTL’s technological capabilities and integrity. This step forward opens up a whole new window of opportunity for LBF as a robust and reliable card and merchant management processor. Migration to CTL’s PRIME from its existing card management system has enhanced LBF’s processing capabilities and proved to be the ideal solution for LBF’s strategic plans for future growth.
Together with its determination and ambition to contribute innovative, comprehensive and professional payment card services to corporate communities and individuals, LBF has been making headway in its multi-processing operations for other banks in Bangladesh with the assistance of CTL.
LBF’s system integration capabilities and service efficiency for its processing operations provide its valued customers with a fast return on investment (ROI), which allows for more defined project and operation scope in line with market trends and payment associations.
In order to build customer confidence and to improve their professionalism, LBF offers its clients unbeatable technical and business skills. CTL has strengthened LBF’s business and operation levels with this seamless, successful data migration implementation, supported by CTL’s previous successful experiences all around the globe from numerous legacy systems. CTL's modular yet comprehensive solution, backed up by a dedicated 24x7 life cycle technical support team, has provided LBF with a future-proof platform and a cost-effective growth path for the ever increasing transaction volumes and growing demand.
CTL has successfully implemented PRIME at two other banks in Bangladesh. LBF remains one of CTL's key clients in the region.
Ahmed Zafrul Hasan, Senior Vice President & Head of Cards at Lanka-Bangla Finance Limited, said: "PRIME card and merchant management system helps us grow our business volume amidst stiff competition. CTL is capable of providing us with the future proof end-to-end solution that especially caters to our expected rapid growth rate. Our business and technological operations have benefited from CTL’s solution, thus allowing us to secure a number of prominent customers. CTL is able to cater to our specific requirements efficiently without compromising on system performance. The proactive approach of the project team at CTL, particularly the 24/7 support, has helped us timely solve complex issues transcending different time zones and geographical territories."
Alvin Huang, Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific, Card Tech Limited, said: "The system allows LBF to have a strategic advantage in the growing payment cards market of Bangladesh. CTL has adopted a well proven implementation and deployment strategy that is designed to let the system go-live within the agreed budget and on-time delivery on a recognised platform. In short, CTL solutions are developed in-house with no sub-contractors involved, thus clients are able to have a high service level yet dedicated life-cycle support."
Coupled with technological intelligence and CTL’s leading card and merchant management system, PRIME, LBF has shown its array of in-house capabilities with its wide reach of customer portfolio, improved operations and customers’ confidence.
About Card Tech Limited
CTL solutions and processing service include card issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud management. They address every aspect of the card management business cycle, and are developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists from five regional offices in London, Nicosia, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
CTL Contact:
Alvin Huang
Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific
Suite 27.02, Level 27 Menara Citibank
165, Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603 2164 7800
Email: Alvin.Huang@ctl.com
www.ctl.com
Lanka-bangla Finance Limited Contact:
Ahmed Zafrul Hasan
Senior Vice President & Head of Cards
Safura Tower [Level 5]
20, Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel: +88-02-9883701
Email: zafrul@lankabangla.com
www.lankabangla.com
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, August 17, 2005
Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. today announced its successful migration to EMV, the global chip card specification, with the help of Card Tech Limited (CTL), a UK-based leading bankcard systems provider. The bank issued its first batch of EMV chip cards to new card applicants using CTL's PRIME PERSO, an end-to-end personalisation solution. Its clients will now benefit from EMV chip applications and authentication services which help deter counterfeit
, lost and stolen cards, and card-not-present fraud.Jyske Bank, a subsidiary of the US$19 billion Jyske Bank Group based in Denmark, has benefited from CTL's systems since 1989. All its Visa card issuing is supported by PRIME, CTL's leading card and merchant management solution. The bank's deployment of PRIME PERSO, a new module able to support any card personalisation machine, offered a swift and easy in-house solution for its migration to EMV.
Nicky Wright, Head of Payments at Jyske Bank, said 'CTL continues to address all our growing business needs; by adding PRIME PERSO functionality, CTL has provided us with a cost-effective end-to-end solution which can increase our time-to-market capabilities. We are now able to deliver cards to the cardholders on the same day as their request, often within as little as 3-4 hours.'
Jaffar Agha-Jaffar, Managing Director at CTL, said 'PRIME PERSO is designed to assist banks in their personalisation process for EMV cards; it's a new product for CTL, and Jyske Bank's successful migration demonstrates Card Tech's continued ability to provide new software in line with our clients' needs. He added 'This system will provide Jyske Bank with an integrated EMV solution supplied by one vendor.’
PRIME PERSO operates in conjunction with PRIME Issuer and is compliant with Visa Smart Debit and Credit (VSDC) and MasterCard M/Chip. Its capabilities include all aspects of personalisation including managing and processing cardholder data to final card production and embossing.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions.
Our software and processing service includes card issuance, merchant
acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN
management, e-commerce and fraud management, addressing every aspect of
the card management business cycle. They are developed and supported by
a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment
association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every
implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
About Jyske Bank
Jyske Bank Private Banking is unique from several perspectives. One
of them is our specialisation in highly personalised private banking
services. We are a part of the 19 billion US-dollar Jyske Bank Group
based in Denmark and we only deal with private investors. This simple
fact makes a profound difference to the service and security you
experience, and to the financial success you achieve.
We specialise in providing the best financial advice and highly individualised service. We call it person-to-person banking. Our advisers are not commissioned. They have one job: to advise you in such a way as to maximise your personal wealth. And since our advisers work exclusively with private investments, they amass knowledge and experience in this one area - experience that will be brought to bear on your investments.
We have, among others, offices in Copenhagen, Zurich and Gibraltar and we serve more than 35,000 clients from all over the world. We provide a range of international investment opportunities - customised to meet the needs of each client.
CTL Contact:
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager - Business Expansion
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd Contact:
Nicky Wright
Head of Payments
nick-w@jyskebank.ltd.gi
+350-59209
www.jbpb.com
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, August 19, 2005
Card Tech Limited (CTL), a leading card and merchant management systems provider, today announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Mutual Trust Bank Limited of Bangladesh (MTB), to support all its Visa
card issuing requirements.CTL is a UK-based company which hosts offices in London, Nicosia, Moscow, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. It offers world-class payment processing solutions across the globe and has been offering its superior card payment systems to the Asia Pacific region for over 15 years. CTL will now provide MTB with PRIME and ONLINE, to handle all its issuing and authorization processing for its entire card base, including Visa credit and debit cards: Classic and Gold.
Mohammed Al-Bassam, Managing Director APAC at CTL, said 'CTL's PRIME is one of the world's leading card and merchant management solutions. It is based on tried-and-tested methodologies and has a long history of successful implementations around the world. Its rich functionalities are designed to meet today's market demands, and will enable MTB to develop a competitive product offering while attracting and retaining its valuable customers.'
'By signing this latest agreement with MTB, CTL is demonstrating its continued commitment and support to the banking sector in Bangladesh. Essentially, by offering both PRIME and ONLINE, a comprehensive authorization and switching platform, we are providing MTB with the tools to turn its business objectives into a reality.'
About Mutual Trust Bank
Mutual Trust Bank was incorporated on September 29, 1999 under the Companies Act 1994 as a public company limited by shares for carrying out all kinds of banking activities with Authorised Capital of Tk. 1,000,000,000 divided into 10,000,000 ordinary shares of Tk.100 each.
The Company was also issued Certificate for Commencement of Business on the same day and was granted license on October 05, 1999 by Bangladesh Bank under the Banking Companies Act 1991, and started its banking operation on October 24, 1999. As envisaged in the Memorandum of Association and as licensed by Bangladesh Bank under the provisions of the Banking Companies Act 1991, the Company started its banking operation and was entitled to carry out the following types of banking business: (i) All types of commercial banking activities including Money Market operations,(ii) Investment in Merchant Banking activities. (iii) Investment in Company activities. (iv) Financiers, Promoters, Capitalists etc. (v) Financial Intermediary Services. (vii) Any related Financial Services.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions. Our software
and processing service addresses every aspect of the card management
business cycle. They include card issuance, merchant acquiring,
authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management,
e-commerce and fraud management, and are developed and supported by a
dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
CTL Contact:
MeiLin Lim
Business Account Manager, Asia Pacific
+603 2164 7800
www.ctl.com
meilin.lim@ctl.com
CTL Press Contact:
Sara Ruffell
Communications Coordinator
+0044 207761 7800
pressoffice@ctl.com
Card Tech Limited names Steve Hilling as Chief Operating Officer
Press Release from the CTL Press Office, August 9, 2005
Card Tech Limited (CTL), a leading UK-based bankcard systems provider and processor, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Steve Hilling to the post of Chief Operating Officer. In his new role as COO, Mr Hilling will specifically focus on operational efficiency, project delivery, strategic planning and driving the overall business objectives of the company forward.
Steve Hilling brings to his role a wealth of experience gained from a series of senior management roles in the card payments industry. He has worked at Visa International EMEA, DMR Inc., Sema Group and Main Consultants Ltd, a leading international Card Payments consultancy which he founded in 1996. Prior to his promotion to COO, Steve was General Manager for Business Development at CTL.
Jaffar Agha-Jaffar, Managing Director at CTL, stated "One of the keys to CTL's continual success has been its flexibility; it has a proven history of evolving to meet market demands and the needs of its valued customers. As part of its development strategy to sustain its growth and maximize its productivity, CTL will follow an expansion strategy to increase its resources and capacity - elements which we are confident that Steve, as COO, will oversee effectively."
CTL has a long history of providing innovative solutions to the global leaders in the payments industry. Over the past 15 years it has expanded into multiple markets around the globe and now supports over 170 clients in 70 countries.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170
banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions. Our software and processing
service addresses every aspect of the card management business cycle.
They include card issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message
switching, encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud
management, and are developed and supported by a dedicated team of over
300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
CTL
Contact:
Sara Ruffell
Communications Coordinator
+44 20 7761 7800
pressoffice@ctl.com
CTL breaks new ground with National Bank of Dubai
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, July 28, 2005
National Bank of Dubai (NBD), announces the successful launch of its M/Chip and VSDC acquiring processing facility with the help of Card Tech Limited (CTL), a leading UK-based bankcard systems provider. This successful implementation, not only secures NBD's leading status as the first M/Chip acquirer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but also marks CTL's first M/Chip implementation in the region.
NBD, one of the leading banks in the UAE, is the first among many to complete the EMV certification process for Visa and MasterCard. Having completed the process, the bank can move forward and process live M/Chip transactions using CTL's ONLINE - the world's first complete real-time authorization and message switching system.
Sue Evans, Head of Information Systems & Technology at NBD, said "We are pleased to be one of the first card acquirers in the Gulf to have successfully implemented MasterCard Chip acquiring services, and this is largely due to the substantial support we have received from Card Tech Limited."
CTL and NBD's relationship dates back to the early 1990s. The bank uses CTL solutions to support its cards business. Over the years, CTL's solutions have evolved to support all current and emerging industry standards, and NBD's migration to EMV compliance posed no obstacle.
Edith Kessler-Charalambous, General Manager-Business Account Management at CTL, said "We are delighted to support NBD's implementation of M/Chip acquiring services, helping it to achieve success as one of the first banks in the Gulf and the first bank in the UAE to be M/Chip compliant. CTL benefits from a history of delivering projects within deadlines and we were happy to assist NBD meet theirs."
Abdulfattah Sharaf, Head of Cards Business at NBD, said 'NBD has once again proven its position as an innovative player in the UAE Market.' He added 'This achievement demonstrates our commitment to our customers to provide a comprehensive product suite based on the latest technologies, and supports NBD's business objectives to provide added value and a world class service to all its clients.'
NBD's latest accomplishment is one in a series which supports its reputation as a market leader for acquiring card business in the UAE. Previous successes include: winning the MasterCard Data Integrity Award for demonstrating a high level of data integrity in an international market, and being voted Best Bank in the UAE by Global Finance Magazine for three consecutive years.
About Card Tech Limited
Card Tech Limited has been providing payment
association certified solutions to the bankcard sector since 1989. More than 170 banking clients from 70 countries use
CTL systems.
CTL solutions and processing service include card issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud management. They address every aspect of the card management business cycle, and are developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists from five regional offices in London, Nicosia, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
CTL Contact:
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager, Business Expansion
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
NBD Contact:
Abdulfattah Sharaf
Head - Cards Business
sharaf@nbd.com
+ 971-42012455
www.nbd.com
Zimbank Moves into PRIME Position with CTL
System upgrade to power the bank’s new and improved payment products
CTL Press Office, July 26, 2005 – Card Tech Limited (CTL), a UK-based leader in the payments industry, today announced the successful implementation of its PRIME solution at Zimbank. PRIME replaces CTL’s Cardman solution, which the bank has used since 1995; it will provide the platform for new and improved products in the bank’s growing card portfolio.
PRIME has a long history in Africa, where CTL has twenty-one clients spread across twelve countries. Zimbank’s PRIME solution is one of three now running live in Zimbabwe.
CTL’s Managing Director, Jaffar Agha-Jaffar, said: "Zimbank has wisely looked at its long-term strategies and chosen to license most of the functionality it will need to support them. The PRIME solution is ideal, because it lets the bank adopt a phased approach to adding functionality."
"Having worked with Zimbank for nearly a decade, I am delighted at the success of the project. I believe this comprehensive upgrade shows Zimbank’s continuing confidence in CTL products and services."
Zimbank will use its PRIME solution for card issuance and cash advance acquiring. The bank is licensed to issue proprietary and Visa-branded credit and debit cards. The licence also includes integrated CTL systems, which optimise the power of PRIME and let Zimbank extend its range of products. In a multi-phased project, the bank will replace its Sparrow system with the ONLINE authorisation and switching system; it will add CTL CONTROLLER to manage ATMs; and it will introduce PRIME’s Loans module, among other new components.
The modular PRIME solution was one of the first of its kind to support chip card issuing and acquiring, and had notable success in Africa with its support for the Visa Horizon off-line pre-authorised card product. Since its launch in 1995, it has received support across the board from the payment associations: three associations recommended it to their associated financial institutions, while a fourth operates the system itself.
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL
solutions. Our software and processing service includes card
issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message switching,
encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud management,
addressing every aspect of the card management business cycle. They are
developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
CTL Contact
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager - Business Expansion
Tel: +44 (0) 207 761 7800
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
www.ctl.com
CTL contributes to UNICEF's Tsunami relief fund
CTL Press Office, 20 July, 2005 - Card Tech Limited (CTL), a leading bankcard systems provider and processor, with the support of its employees, today made a donation of over $9,000 to UNICEF's Tsunami relief fund. This latest donation, is one in a series of contributions made by CTL Staff and its management team. To date, it has donated over $14,000 to the Tsunami relief effort.
CTL staff drove the fund-raising campaign in a bid not to forget the tragic Tsunami victims, and the company extended its good will by duplicating each employee's contribution. The money raised will now help UNICEF's reconstruction work in the affected areas.
Russell Hickman, Head of Sales Support & Marketing, said 'The Tsunami led to disastrous consequences for thousands of innocent people in many countries - it was only natural that CTL, as a multinational company with an office in Malaysia, wished to respond in any way that it could.'
CTL is a UK-based company operating in over 70 countries around the world. It has offices in London, Nicosia, Moscow, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.
About Card Tech
Limited
More than 170 banks from 70
countries use CTL solutions. Our software and processing service
includes card issuance, merchant acquiring, authorisation, message
switching, encryption key and PIN management, e-commerce and fraud
management, addressing every aspect of the card management business
cycle. They are developed and supported by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
CTL Contact:
Sara Ruffell
Communications Coordinator
+44 20 7761 7800
PressOffice@ctl.com
www.ctl.com
CTL wins processing contract for Trade Bank of Iraq
CTL Press Office, April 28, 2005 – Card Tech Limited (CTL), the UK-based card management systems' provider and processor has signed a strategic agreement with the Trade Bank of Iraq, to provide card issuing and acquiring processing services for the bank's planned range of Visa card products.
Trade Bank of Iraq's suite of products will include a Visa Classic Card targeted for travel and entertainment usage and a Visa Electron salary card. Following the launch of its card portfolio, the bank will immediately deploy 10 Automatic Teller Machines in Baghdad. This constitutes the initial stages of the bank's long term strategy to introduce modern, mass financial delivery systems into Iraq.
Since its inception in 2003, the Trade Bank of Iraq has succeeded in modernizing Iraq's trading financial systems beyond all expectations - it has issued a remarkable 1482 Letters of Credit to over 64 countries to date. It became a principal member of Visa in 2004, and has consistently demonstrated its strong commitment towards the reconstruction of Iraq, through a continued development of its financial services and infrastructure.
Badawi Al Naqeeb, Deputy General Manager of Trade Bank of Iraq, said "CTL was selected as the ideal processing partner by Trade Bank of Iraq. It assisted TBI in coordinating with various parties to launch our card product in record time, utilizing its good offices with the payment systems. Furthermore, we were impressed by its unique ability to adapt and perform successfully under challenging conditions, guaranteeing operational excellence amidst Iraq's existing harsh conditions."
Donna Halpin, Head of Processing Services at CTL, said "Card Tech Limited fully supports the reconstruction and development of Iraq's financial systems". She continued to say "We are delighted that we have been selected as the processor for the Trade Bank of Iraq's card issuing and acquiring business. This is testament to our convincing successful track-record in the cards industry, and our expanding processing service."
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL
solutions. Our software and processing service includes card issuance,
merchant acquiring, authorisation, message switching, encryption key and
PIN management, e-commerce and fraud management, addressing every aspect
of the card management business cycle. They are developed and supported
by a dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
Contact:
Malek Mroueh
Sales Manager
+44 20 7761 7800
malek.mroueh@ctl.com
www.ctl.com
CTL Press Office, April 18, 2005 – Card Tech Limited (CTL), a leading UK-based bankcard systems provider and processor, has successfully consolidated HVB Bank Hungary's credit card issuing on its leading card and merchant management solution, PRIME. This recent development took place on HVB Bank Czech Republic's existing PRIME platform and follows the consolidation of HVB Bank Slovakia's credit card issuing, in 2004.
The HVB Group operates the leading banking network in 16 CEE countries and was awarded 'Bank of the Year in Central and Eastern Europe,' by The Banker and also ‘Best Bank in CEE’ by Euromoney in 2004. This latest development is part of an objective to centralize some of its core competencies and consolidate them at a number of key processing centers in order to improve operational excellence.
CTL installed PRIME at HVB Bank Czech Republic in 1993 and as a result of its successful track record, the bank chose to use it for HVB Bank Slovakia's and HVB Bank Hungary's credit card issuing. Over the years PRIME has proven itself as a flexible, global platform that could successfully accommodate the banks' requirements. Its proven track record and multi-currency, multi-product and multi-institutional functionalities, further demonstrated its overall adaptability to meet and supersede the banks' currents and future expectations.
The banks also selected CTL's FRAUDGUARD, as an ideal risk management solution to support their card issuing processing services. They were drawn to its user-friendly web browser interface, rule-based technology, case management and expert system capabilities. Customers of the banks are now able to benefit from real-time fraud detection in multiple ways, as the solution is tailored to provide customers with an SMS alert after all card transaction attempts made on their cards. Ultimately, this means that cardholders have the option to select and receive up to six different transaction-related alerts. These will inform the cardholder of every successful or unsuccessful card transaction, initiated at both POS and ATM terminals.
Michal Hladik, Head of Card Department at HVB Bank Czech Republic, said ' We are very enthusiastic about the consolidation of our card issuing processing services with that of HVB Bank Slovakia and HVB Bank Hungary. Coupled with our advanced fraud monitoring service, we are satisfied that we can offer an extremely high level of customer service to our clients in the region.'
Jaffar Agha-Jaffar, CTL's Managing Director said ' HVB Bank Czech Republic and CTL share a long-standing relationship, dating back to 1993.' He continued to say 'We are pleased that CTL's PRIME was chosen by the 3 banks collectively as the future-proof system on which to consolidate all their card issuing processing services. This reflects PRIME's versatile functionalities, enabling card processing for scalable bank volumes.'
About Card Tech Limited
More than 170 banks from 70 countries use CTL solutions.Our software
and processing service addresses every aspect of the card management
business cycle. They include card issuance, merchant acquiring,
authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management,
e-commerce and fraud management, and are developed and supported by a
dedicated team of over 300 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
About HVB Group
HVB Group is the leading bank in the heart of Europe. As the largest
foreign banking network in Central and Eastern Europe, no one is better
positioned to help you expand in Central and Eastern Europe than HVB
Group. Operating in an active partnership with our customers, we are
positioned to offer outstanding integrated financial management.
HVB Bank Czech Republic is a subsidiary of the Austrian bank institution Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA), which is responsible for the CEE markets in the HVB Group. HVB Bank Czech Republic is ranked fourth by assets in the Czech Republic and operates 24 offices throughout the country.
Contacts:
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager, Business Account Management
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
National Bank of Abu Dhabi Upgrades to CTL’s PRIME 3.0
Press Release - from the CTL Press Office, February 16, 2005
NBAD is the highest ranked bank in the UAE in terms
of assets, deposits and branch network.
NBAD chose PRIME 3.0 as its platform for future growth. The
cost-effective suite of systems now runs on the Oracle 9i database,
providing advantages such as enhanced scalability and flexibility.
Khalid Deemas, Head of Retail Banking at NBAD, said
"The capabilities of PRIME continue to meet our evolving business
needs and enable NBAD to deliver a range of flexible product offerings
to the market."
Edith
Kessler-Charalambous, General Manager-Business Account Management
at CTL, said “We are delighted to announce the bank’s decision to
move to PRIME 3.0 - a system which we view as the future platform for
card processing in the region.”
National Bank of Abu Dhabi and CTL share a long
history together, dating back to 1993. CTL implemented NBAD’s Visa’s
Smart Debit/Credit (VSDC) programme, helping it to achieve success, as
the first bank in the Gulf to be
VSDC Issuer and Acquirer compliant.
Since the early 1990s, CTL has maintained a strong
presence in the Middle East; as a market leader with an excellent
reputation. In total, CTL’s systems support 24 banks in the region, of
which 12, rank among the top 4 in their own countries.
CTL’s long-term commitment to the region was
realized in 2004, when it opened an office in Dubai, providing its
customers with quick access to local technical support.
About Card
Tech Limited
Card Tech Limited has been providing payment
association certified solutions to the bankcard sector since 1989. More
than 170 banking clients from 70 countries use CTL systems. CTL
solutions include card issuance, merchant acquiring, personalisation,
authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management,
e-commerce and fraud management. Addressing every aspect of the card
management business cycle, they are developed and supported by a
dedicated team of over 270 CTL specialists in five regional offices.
About National Bank of Abu Dhabi
National Bank of Abu
Dhabi has the largest branch and ATM network in the country. NBAD offers
one stop banking services and anticipates your needs from Personal
Banking to Corporate Banking packages, Foreign Exchange to Money Market
instruments, fixed yields to variable returns investment. NBAD’s 20
overseas units established worldwide have put NBAD on the map, from Oman
and Bahrain in the G.C.C., Cairo and Khartoum in Africa, London and
Paris in Europe to Washington D.C. in the U.S.A.
CTL Contact: NBAD
Contact:
CTL
successfully implements another Shari'a compliant card programme Leading
payment systems vendor helps ADIB implement Islamic card programmes CTL Press
Office, London, UK. January, 25 2005 – Card Tech Limited (CTL), a
UK-based leader in the global payments industry, has again implemented
its PRIME card and merchant management solution as the platform for a
successful Shari’a card programme. This most recent implementation
took place in the United Arab Emirates, at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB). Abu Dhabi
Islamic Bank is a growing institution. It has built a leading portfolio
of Islamic banking products, including card programmes built on PRIME,
according to the exacting standards of its Shari’a Committee. The bank’s
PRIME solution currently contains the core PRIME card management
features; modules for building loyalty programmes, for scoring
applications and for managing collections; plus CTL’s ONLINE
authorisation and switching engine and the NCRYPT key management tool.
ADIB has additional options for expanding its portfolio with
functionality from PRIME. ADIB’s acting
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Mehairi said “Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is one of the major financial
institutions in the region, established in 1998 with the objective to
tailor solutions to meet all the needs of customers in a transparent
manner with Shari’a compliant products.” He
said, “Payment cards are a necessity and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, after
years of research, came up with a unique payment card product, ‘The
Covered Card,’ offered in VISA Classic, Gold and Platinum. This is a
payment card where the customer can revolve the balance and pay in
instalments – up to 55 days of grace period for payment. The Covered
Card further provides ‘Takaful’ (an Islamic insurance) on travel,
and ‘Purchase Protection.’ We intend to load the card with
additional benefits to the customers in the coming months.” “The
mechanism of our Covered Card posed a challenge for the card processing
systems,” said Mr. Al Mehairi. “We spent
a considerable time assessing payment card system providers that would
meet the current and future requirements of our unique payment card
product. We are very pleased to have chosen CTL, which is a global
payment card system solutions provider with a proven track record. We
intend to expand our card business in many ways in this competitive
market, including chip-enabled products, and CTL has the ability to
provide ADIB with these solutions.” “Fast,
reliable and superior service and comprehensive products for customers
are the focal point of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank,” continued Mr. Al Mehairi.
“We have partnered with CTL to achieve these key business objectives,
as far as the current and future plans of ADIB in the payment card world
are concerned.”
About
Card Tech Limited
CTL Contact
ADIB
Contact
Any
other information may be obtained from the Press Office Tel:
0044 (0)20 7761 7800
Edith Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager, Business Account Management
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
+44 20 7761 7800
National Bank
of Abu Dhabi
P.O. Box: 4
Abu Dhabi
UAE
www.nbad.com
More
than 160 banks from 60 countries use CTL software.
Our solutions – including card issuance, merchant acquiring,
authorisation, message switching, encryption key and PIN management,
e-commerce and fraud management – address every aspect of the card
management business cycle. They are developed and supported by a
dedicated team of over 250 CTL specialists.
We have an exceptional record of delivering payment
association-compliant solutions on budget and on time; we back up every
implementation with a 24x7 global support service.
Edith
Kessler-Charalambous
General Manager, Business Account Management
Edith.Kessler-Charalambous@ctl.com
Tel: +44 20 7761 7800
www.ctl.com
Ghulam Shabir
Manager – Card Center
Shabir@adib.ae
Tel: +971-2-6100610
Shk. Khalifa Street,
PO Box 34613 – Abu Dhabi
Fax 00971-2-6270522
email: PressOffice@ctl.com
