This follows the announcement on 30 August, 2012 that Optimal Payments Limited was to become an issuer of prepaid cards including, as of 1 November, 2012, its own Net+ MasterCard prepaid card. As the direct issuer of its own award winning MasterCard prepaid card, Optimal Payments will be able to more quickly grow the Net+ programme and actively pursue additional commercial opportunities. The Net+ card offers cardholders a powerful tool to transfer money and spend anywhere MasterCard is accepted.

Marion King, President of UK and Ireland at MasterCard commented: "We are delighted to be working closely with Optimal Payments, including Optimal's own Net+ brand, as part of our commitment to the growth of the prepaid business in Europe. Our latest MasterCard research shows Europe to be one of the fastest growing regions for prepaid and this latest strategic partnership demonstrates our vision and pledge to this. MasterCard Prepaid cards provide a safer, faster and more convenient alternative to cash while also giving consumers the freedom to budget and segment their spending. At MasterCard, we are committed to using our technology and expertise to continually improve a number of benefits to consumers, issuers, and merchants whilst offering the state-of -the-art security protection of the MasterCard payment system".

Danny Chazonoff, Chief Operating Officer at Optimal Payments, commented: "Becoming an issuer of our own Net+ prepaid card programme represents the first step in building out our business in prepaid, a rapidly growing market. With the continuing support of MasterCard, we are working to develop new features to make our award winning Net+ Prepaid MasterCard even more widely available to merchants and consumers throughout Europe."