Contis Group, a leading European end-to-end payment solution provider, has designed and powered a new, innovative multi-purpose financial services solution for customers of Nowtel, the pan-European telephony group specialising in calling cards and mobile virtual network operations.
Nowtel's TALK HOME CAT Card Visa payments solution, is powered by Contis' proprietary prepaid/debit card platform, which has provided Nowtel with a cost efficient, agile and scalable framework to deliver a range of card based financial services to thousands of telecom customers around the UK.
New services include an e-account that offers each card holder an account number and bank sort code, meaning cards can be loaded with funds directly via the conventional banking networks. The e-account also enables cardholders to set up and manage standing orders, thus automating regular bill payments and international money transfers via the banking system.
The TALK HOME CAT Card solution has been designed with international flexibility in mind. With multiple cards available for different family members, together with global ATM access and international acceptance via the Visa network, the solution is well suited to those wishing to share a centralised facility with relatives and friends in foreign countries, all without the need to register for a UK bank account.
Cardholders can also take advantage of a dynamic rewards scheme unique to the TALK HOME CAT Card, which is backed by some of the UK's leading retail brands including Virgin Experience Days, New Look, B&Q and Toys R Us.
"It's rare for a calling card producer to offer a multi-purpose prepaid card," comments Andrew Davies, Financial Director at Nowtel. "After the success of our TALK HOME prepaid calling card solution the next step was to diversify our proposition and offer our customers a versatile, international facility through which they could manage their money. The Contis solution allows us to empower card holders with a convenient and low-cost alternative to traditional banking."
Mike Fromant, Managing Director, Contis Group comments: "When you consider the increasing number of individuals who are looking to send money overseas, together with those that are pulling aw away from traditional banking either through choice or because of the lack of available facilities, it is easy to understand why products like Nowtel's TALK HOME CAT Card are in such demand. Contis is witnessing a surge in contracts for its white label end-to-end prepaid and debit solutions, as corporate's begin to recognise how quickly and easily they can deliver additional value to their customers by diversifying their product offering."
Contis' card solutions are integrated into the Visa payment network. They can be tailored to meet the cardholder needs of individual clients, providing a seamless service offering which delivers cost efficiencies, greater agility in programme development, a much faster time to market and simplicity of management; all managed in-house by Contis through a single point of contact.