The KBC portfolio will be processed on TS2®, TSYS' industry-leading outsourced processing platform, and customer service support will be provided by TSYS Managed Services EMEA.

KBC has provided business and personal banking services to customers throughout Ireland for 40years. Its parent company, KBC Group, is one of Europe's largest financial services providers, with operations also in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

"Debit is the fastest growing payment instrument in Europe and presents an opportunity for TSYS to bring its extensive experience to this sector," said Kelley Knutson, executive vice president, TSYS. "We are committed to developing our debit proposition in TSYS' home markets, and by working with KBC, we not only gain a new customer but also the opportunity to share best practices as we grow together in the Irish payments market."

"KBC is providing a real alternative in Irish banking and over the last 18 months we have been expanding our presence and introducing new and innovative products. The ability to launch a debit card is seen as the next critical stage in our growth," said Edward Dillon, head of retail products for KBC Bank Ireland. "We are pleased to partner with TSYS, the leading debit processor in Ireland, to work together to launch our debit card portfolio."

TSYS' debit solution is part of its core business and can support all card processing needs along with value-added services. TSYS Managed Services EMEA will further support the portfolio with customer service support, dispute and chargeback handling and fraud and strategy management.