A new method of payment for safer on-line shopping
Koper, July 3, 2012 - Banka Koper has begun issuing a pre-paid Activa Visa Electron card dubbed Moja, the first among the Slovenian banks. The card allows greater comfort and safety when shopping, particularly for bank card users who are wary about giving their card details while shopping on-line or by catalogue and using their card while travelling. The pre-paid card can be issued to any individual (minimum 15 years of age), regardless of whether or not they are clients of Banka Koper.
Credit and debit cards have become a practically indispensable companion in today's world. In Slovenia, the most widespread are still debit cards and cards with delayed payment, while the use of pre-paid cards is still limited to a small number of users who use certain services, such as the pre-paid cards from mobile network operators.
The Banka Koper Moja pre-paid card is thus a novelty on the Slovenian bank card market, one that provides the versatility of this type of card to a wider range of users. It is a reloadable pre-paid card – a card that can have funds deposited on it multiple times.
The card itself belongs to the family of smart-cards, with a chip that guarantees safe electronic payment for goods and services at sales points via POS terminals with Activa and Visa Electron labels, withdrawing cash at ATMs and bank branches domestically and while travelling, on-line shopping and electronic banking supported by the Verified by Visa security system. The pre-paid card mainly differs from debit and delayed payment carts in the fact that it is not tied to a personal bank account, which means it does not allow users to draw on their bank balance limit and also does not allow spread payments. Users of the pre-paid card can only spend as much as they deposit beforehand. As the risk is thus limited to the deposited funds, the pre-paid card offers a high degree of safety in the event of loss or theft. After each use, the value of the purchase is debited from the amount deposited on the card. Owners of the card can deposit funds as often as they wish and the account number and reference information are available on the back of the card. The card also has its own PIN code and is activated with the first funds deposited by the owner by cash or electronic deposit. Card owners are informed about fund spending by e-mail or the Banka IN e-banking system and the card balance can also be checked at ATMs. The card can be used at all sales points, websites and ATMs with the Activa and Visa Electron label, and also abroad via the Visa Electron brand and at ATMs with the PLUS label. You can complete a pre-paid card request form on the Banka Koper website, at all Banka Koper branches and via the personal e-banking service Banka IN.
The fact that pre-paid cards are a trend for the future is confirmed by the two largest card systems, Mastercard and Visa, which are placing increasing emphasis on this type of card. Internationally, the most popular types of pre-paid cards are gift cards used in the retail business and travel cards that replace traveller's cheques in tourism. Pre-paid card are a niche for users who do not wish to open a separate bank account to get a card. They can be used for on-line or catalogue shopping and by young people, who can store their allowances on the card.
Banka Koper was the first to issue a pre-paid card in Slovenia in 2007 for members of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia, while this time a pre-paid card is offered to the general public. It is worth noting that ownership of the card does not require opening a bank account.
During the period of the launch of the new card, until 1 September 2012, the bank has decided to offer an additional benefit - the bank's clients can obtain the new Moja Activa Visa Electron card free of charge.