Unibanka, an SEB Group bank in Latvia, has begun issuing EMV standard Visa credit and debit cards using TietoEnator's Transmaster software and high-end smart cards supplied by Austria Card.
The bank started issuing EMV cards at the end of April 2003. Ainars Ozols, vice president, Unibanka, says: "Our aim is not only to issue smart cards but also to establish the infrastructure for smart card usage."
TietoEnator's Transmaster solution manages the complete cycle of payment card processing, from card issuing to electronic payment operations via the Internet and mobile devices.
The vendor says assisting European banks in the migration to smart cards is one of its main strategic priorities over the next few years.