First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced the introduction of the Contactless Naira Master Card to its array of debit cards to promote convenience, ease of transactions and the security of funds. FirstBank debit cards are acceptable nationwide and globally, they can be used to withdraw cash and access value added services including bills payment, airtime recharge, flight and hotel booking among others.
The FirstBank Contactless Naira Master Card enables quick pin-less purchases and is a fast secure way for customers to shop locally and globally. The contactless card can be used for making payments in the London transport network such as buses, tubes, trams, Dock and Light Railway (DLR) and the London Overground as well as in Grocery shops, supermarkets and Gas stations within London metropolis. The card is designed to enhance a cashless lifestyle by promoting increased card usage for lower value transactions. Payments are made by tapping the card on the POS machine with contactless functions for low value transactions; the card can also be used in a regular POS as a normal MasterCard. The daily limits for pin-less transactions are N3000 for the contactless naira master card and N10,000.00 for the contactless Platinum Debit MasterCard.
The FirstBank Verve debit card is Chip & PIN secured for greater protection of customers’ funds, provides extra protection for web based transactions with “Safetoken”, is Naira- denominated, and personalised, bearing the customer’s name. It is accepted wherever the Interswitch or Verve logo is displayed and can also be used to perform transactions via the Quickteller services menu on FirstBank ATMs. This Card is issued in 15 minutes at FirstBank branches, saves time and is very easy to obtain.
With the FirstBank Expressions on Card, Customers now have the freedom to design the look and feel of their cards with their most cherished memories and spend with a card that is as unique as them. The card is Naira-denominated and is accepted globally for online, ATM and PoS transactions.
The Bank also issues the Platinum Naira MasterCard to serve High Net-worth Customers. The Platinum Naira MasterCard is a Naira denominated international Debit card issued in partnership with MasterCard Worldwide, and enables transactions all over the world wherever the MasterCard logo is displayed. This card provides access to e-Commerce across the globe and enhanced security with the Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) technology that greatly reduces the cloning of cards; access to international emergency services such as card replacement and cash advance. Customers with the Platinum Naira Master Card also have access to higher local daily transaction limits from FirstBank. The card is accepted worldwide at over 29.million merchant locations and can be used for transactions over the WEB or POS as well as cash withdrawals at over 1.8 million ATMs, in over 200 countries. The card is also secured by Chip & PIN technology and is issued within 15 minutes at FirstBank branches.
The Visa Debit Card is a dual currency card denominated in NGN and USD, allowing customers spend Naira from their Naira account when in Nigeria and Dollars from their domiciliary account when outside the country. The card also has the EMV (Chip & PIN) enhanced security that ensures safety of funds and transactions. The Visa Debit card is accepted globally for ATM withdrawals, POS payments terminals as well as online for goods and services.
FirstBank is re-certified to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 3.2, and this recertification reaffirms the Bank’s leading position in the payment card industry in Nigeria. Recently, FirstBank was named the first financial institution in Nigeria and the West-Africa sub-region to issue 10 million cards to customers across the country. This makes FirstBank the second bank in Africa to achieve this feat. With this milestone, the Bank has maintained a 95% active card ratio and currently processes about 30% of card transactions in the entire banking industry.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is Nigeria’s premier and most valuable banking brand, and largest financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings. With more than 12 million customer accounts, FirstBank has over 750 branches providing a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as its Representative Office in Beijing.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimized risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 – by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; and “Most Innovative Bank in Africa” in the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards 2014. Recently, for the seventh consecutive time, the Bank clinched the “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” award by The Asian Banker. Our brand purpose is to always put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of our business, even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with our brand vision “To be the partner of first choice in building your future”. Our brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.
Folake Ani-Mumuney
Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications
