Maestro brand strengthens as UK announces Switch migration

Migration of the brand will begin with immediate effect and will be completed by mid-2007.

Switch is the UK's leading debit card scheme and amounts for nearly one in three of all UK card payments.

Commenting on the migration programme, Ann Camarillo, MasterCard Chief Debit Officer and head of the Debit Centre of Excellence, said, "That such a strong and dynamic debit market as the UK has chosen Maestro will help us promote the benefits of our debit value proposition globally."

As well as nearing the completion of the agreement on brand migration, the Switch Scheme will also outsource its transaction processing to MasterCard using EPS-Net, the telecommunications and data processing arm for MasterCard and Maestro transactions in Europe. EPS-Net will be responsible for the processing of all inter-member transactions performed domestically in the UK.

Maestro is the leading online debit programme in the world, with more participating issuers, cards and acceptance locations in more countries than any other online debit brand. Most Switch cards already carry the Maestro logo on the reverse as an international acceptance brand. However, the move to migrate the brand fully to Maestro is intended to simplify and clarify the cardholder proposition - with one brand for both domestic and international use.

"It's recognised the world over that strong global brands provide consumers with the assurance they seek," said Mohamed Belarj, senior vice president and general manager, MasterCard International Middle East and North Africa. "We want cardholders throughout the world to recognise that when they shop with Maestro they can do so with confidence. Maestro has seen a strong growth across the region as it gives MasterCard cardholders the option to pay using their MasterCard card with the money being transferred directly out of their bank account therefore negating the need to carry cash."

Tim Green, CEO of Switch Card Services commented: "Switch has been hugely successful by any measure in the UK. Now accounting for 1.3 billion transactions a year and an annual spend of over £45 billion, it has become a part of everyday life and language. Nevertheless this agreement with MasterCard would ensure even greater growth of debit card use in the UK and abroad. With international commerce breaking down borders between countries, it clearly makes sense to migrate to Maestro."