First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, today announced that following the merger of Gospodarczy Bank Wielkopolski and Mazowiecki Bank Regionalny, the newly established SGB-Bank has selected First Data as its exclusive provider of card issuing and payment processing services in Poland.
First Data is also responsible for managing the ATM network on behalf of the newly formed financial institution.
First Data's main responsibilities include providing services relating to the issuance of debit, credit and contactless cards by the bank and providing payment processing services, including switching services and settlement services for domestic and international card transactions. In addition, First Data will provide fraud monitoring and ATM network management services. In the coming months, First Data will work with SGB-Bank to implement a 3D Secure system that provides enhanced security for Internet payments by generating additional authenticating passwords for cardholders.
First Data's solutions are intended to meet the demands of a rapidly changing electronic payments market. One example is the award-winning sports-fans card, issued by First Data on behalf of SGB-Bank SA and the KKS Lech Poznan football team and equipped with contactless payments functionality. This successful product inspired First Data's Polish business to launch contactless cards for retail clients, contributing to the growth of non-cash and contactless payments in Poland.
Grzegorz Długosz, a board member of First Data's business in Poland, said: "Our long-standing cooperation with SGB-Bank is a reflection of the great mutual loyalty and understanding between the two parties. During the merger period our organizations underwent a number of transitions and changes which further strengthened our relationship and deepened our knowledge and understanding of each others' needs. We are delighted that First Data will continue to support SGB-Bank and its future development."