International card networks
Increasing revenue and acceptence
From July 2010, holders of German debit cards -
known as 'girocards' - can withdraw cash from ATMs across
the UK. Working with
VocaLink, the LINK ATM network opened all 63,000 UK cash machines
to all users of the German card scheme (more than 92 million)
operated by the Zentraler Kreditausschuss (German Banking
Community).
The new partnership enables customers to
withdraw cash from an additional 21,000 ATMs in the UK with their
German 'girocard'. This marks an improvement of 34% in the
acceptance of German girocards compared to
previously.
The development was possible thanks to EAPS -
the alliance of European debit card schemes - which facilitates pan
European ATM and POS transactions by uniting independent card
schemes throughout Europe under a single European
framework.
Similarly our agreement with the Pulse network
allows Discover
and Diners
Club International cardholders
to use LINK ATMs without having to go through an international
provider. We also offer connectivity to
China Union Pay accounts.
Our central switch operation also
provides a gateway service to VISA and MasterCard and is backed up
by a settlement process that handles comprehensive management
information settling in excess of up to £430 million
daily.