UBS Card Center, a leading processor for Swiss and European credit card issuers that places top priority on providing high-quality services along with absolute security when handling client data from various institutions, announced today that it has joined the PCI Security Standards Council. As a new Participating Organisation, UBS Card Center will work with the Council to evolve the PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) and other payment card data protection standards.

The PCI DSS, endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., requires issuing processors as well as merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity. More information on the council and the standard can be found at pcisecuritystandards.org.

As a Participating Organisation, UBS Card Center will now have access to the latest payment card security standards from the Council, be able to provide feedback on the standards and become part of a growing community that now includes more than 500 organisations. In an era of increasingly sophisticated attacks on systems, adhering to the PCI DSS represents an entity's best protection against data criminals. By joining as a Participating Organisation, UBS Card Center, is adding its voice to the process.

"The PCI Security Standards Council is committed to helping everyone involved in the payment chain protect consumer payment data," says Bob Russo, General Manager of the PCI Security Standards Council. "By participating in the standards setting process, UBS Card Center demonstrates they are playing an active part in this important end goal."

"As a PCI DSS-certified Issuing Processor that serves a variety of clients in Europe, the security of our client data and transactions is the key to our success," says Hansruedi Amstutz, CEO UBS Card Center. "Investing in security technologies is an ideal way to support the primary objective of UBS Card Center, which is to be a top-quality card processor that handles data with maximum security throughout the Swiss and European card processing universe." Paul Hess, Head of IT & Logistics, adds: "Through our membership in the PCI SSC, we not only want to maintain the present security standard but we also wish to actively participate in the further development of these standards, helping us to fight future threats to the payment card industry today."