Visa going touch-free at tollbooths

Visa going touch-free at tollbooths

Visa International (Asia-Pacific) plans to increase contactless transactions or wave cards in this country and is cooperating with the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) to introduce the payment system at tollbooths.

"We're not focusing on increasing the payWave user base even though the base remains low. Instead, Visa will focus on increasing the number of transactions against the normal credit-card payment," country manager Somboon Krobteeranon said.

"Our plan is to increase transactions by expanding the number of accepting retailers and for the banks to issue more payWave cards, creating awareness and incentives for people to use them."

The number of transactions using wave cards in Thailand remains small and limited mainly to Bangkok, as many are not familiar with this type of service.

Customers wave the card in front of a card reader to process their transaction, making it more convenient and faster for cardholders.

"For anyone who has used the skytrain, they're already familiar with how the card works, so we only need to tell them about the benefit of using it more," Mr Somboon said.

Before a country can have high transactions through contactless payment, a critical mass of users must be reached.

"It took three years before 20% of credit-card transactions in Singapore were contactless," Mr Somboon said.

Visa launched the payWave credit card in Thailand late last year, with Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, TMB Bank, Tesco Card Services Ltd and CIMB Thai Bank issuing the cards.

Thailand has an estimated 10 million Visa credit cards and 500,000 payWave-enabled cards.

At present, 7,000 stores nationwide accept payWave including big-name chains such as McDonald's, Big C Supercenter, Tesco Lotus, FamilyMart and MaxValu.

The Siam Paragon food court also takes payWave.

"Contactless payment is suitable for supermarkets and fast-food chains, as it allows customers to pay quickly and reduces the queue," Mr Somboon said.

Visa plans to expand the payWave system and increase the number of issuing banks.

Yesterday, Visa International and Exat agreed to introduce contactless payment for Easy Pass on expressways.

Once in place, the system will be the first in Asia-Pacific to accept contactless payment.

"Many details must be worked out involving many departments, but the programme will be completed in 2015," Exat governor Aiyanut Tinaphai said.

Currently, there are 870,000 Easy Pass users including 240,000 who top up their accounts at Exat partners such as Counter Service Co.

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