The program participation has enabled TietoEnator to test its Card Suite against MasterCard's Global Authorization System on Banknet.

MasterCard Europe's EPSnet will be replaced by Banknet in 2009. EPSnet is currently still used to link Issuers and Acquirers for Online POS/ATM Transaction Processing and existing customers will have to migrate to Banknet.

The certification entitled "MasterCard's Global Authorization Initiative (GAI) Pre-Validation Programme" is aimed at payment card vendors with customers in Europe. This certification offers a number of benefits to TietoEnator's Card Suite customers who are members of MasterCard. It means that TietoEnator customers will be able to benefit from cost savings associated with a reduced migration or implementation project: only one error-free log has to be submitted instead of lengthy test scenarios.

Maris Ozolins, Head of Cards Latvia, TietoEnator Banking & Insurance says: "TietoEnator is taking part in MasterCard's vendor program and supporting one of the latest MasterCard key initiatives. Participation in this Pre-Validation Programme is a win-win project where all parties benefit, including most importantly TietoEnator's Card Suite customers, who now have an opportunity to reduce the validation process and associated costs for themselves."