Commercial Bank of Qatar issues its first EMV Chip Card with TSYS Card Tech

This follows the bank's successful certification with MasterCard and Visa for M/Chip and Visa Smart Debit Credit (VSDC) card issuing.

The launch of the CBQ MasterCard Payroll chip card is the first in an extensive suite of Visa and MasterCard EMV cards to be issued. A multitude of EMV chip card products — including credit, debit, charge and prepaid cards — are to be released in a phased rollout throughout the year.

"We continue to invest heavily in technology, and the in-house issuance of EMV chip cards is a reflection of our bank's strategy to continue to provide our customers with value-added products and services. By deploying EMV-compliant technology and leveraging on the increased security measures associated with EMV, we are in a better position to protect our card holders against card fraud and also ensure that we maintain our strong competitive edge in customer service," said Manu Joseph, assistant general manager and head of cards for CBQ. "TSYS Card Tech's PRIME solution continues to provide our bank with extensive functionality, in addition to flexibility and reliability."

"TSYS Card Tech has a long-standing relationship with CBQ dating back to 1992," said Edith Kessler-Charalambous, general manager of business expansion for TSYS Card Tech. "Our successful track record, including this latest achievement, largely is due to both the strength of our systems and the great co-operation and team effort between the Bank and TSYS Card Tech."

TSYS Card Tech is a market leader in Qatar and the Middle East. In Qatar alone, TSYS Card Tech clients include the top four banks, which have combined assets of 85% of the market share.