SCL supports co-op's launch of Channel Islands’ first prepaid card
Brighton, U.K., July 19, 2010 -- To broaden Jersey’s travel money options, the Channel Islands Co-operative Society (CICS) has launched the Travelmaker Card – the first ever prepaid currency card available in the Channel Islands. The new service is supported by UltraPoS software from SCL, who also provided expert consultancy and programme planning to make the new platform a success.
Providing the convenience of credit and debit cards but with the security of travellers cheques, Travelmaker Cards can be used at any outlet worldwide accepting MasterCard® including ATMs, internet and phone. The chip and PIN format cards are available in Euros, US Dollars and Sterling and, thanks to UltraPoS, can now be purchased and reloaded at CICS retail stores and post offices throughout Jersey.
Trevor Moore, CICS Financial Services Manager, states: “Using UltraPoS we have been able to extend our existing branded travel money service to provide Islanders with a new way to budget and access their money on a universally-accepted, convenient card platform. The cards are not only ideal for holidaymakers, many of the Island’s 88,000 residents travel overseas for business and seasonal work, or to visit family and friends. We are even getting lots of demand from parents who are buying our Sterling value cards to give to their children studying in mainland UK to help with them with their expenses.
He adds, “CICS has a proven track-record with SCL. We have used UltraPoS to issue our foreign currency for several years. We were impressed with the way SCL was able to configure its UltraPoS software in order to facilitate the instant issuing and reloading of prepaid cards across all our outlets and to integrate the process seamlessly into our existing systems. Additionally, SCL helped us to define the solution and the programme format and select the best suppliers. It aided us in our consultations with the Jersey Financial Services Commission to get acceptance for the introduction of prepaid travel money cards on the Channel Islands. SCL’s involvement goes way beyond that of a supplier; it is now a true partner - offering us expert consultancy and technical support as part of its service. This is just the beginning, we aim to extend our Travelmaker prepaid cards to Guernsey, where we already have UltraPoS installed across our retail network.”
Ray Stanton, Managing Director of SCL, whose software facilitates the issue of travel money, gift and other prepaid cards for some of the world’s largest travel companies and retail malls, adds: “We are delighted to assist CICS in bringing this new card platform to the Channel Islands. Our experience in Europe and the US has shown that consumers find prepaid currency cards simpler and more convenient to purchase and use than travellers cheques. They are also a good way to avoid unfavourable exchange rates and transaction fees often associated with using credit and debit cards abroad. Unlike personal bank and charge cards they are not linked to a bank account and, therefore, pose minimal risk to the consumer if lost or stolen. Given the benefits, we anticipate high demand for Travelmaker cards from both Jersey residents and visitors alike.”
About SCL
SCL is the world’s leading foreign exchange and prepaid point of sale systems provider, working with many multi-national clients, including TUI Travel Plc, HSBC, Commerzbank, American Express and Westfield Shopping Centres. Established in the early 1990s, SCL has a unique track-record in the development of automation solutions for travel money and prepaid cards in the UK, North America and across Europe. SCL’s staff includes not only highly skilled technicians, but also experts in the travel money and prepaid businesses, enabling them to understand and fulfill customers’ requirements.
About UltraPoS
SCL’s UltraPoS is a flexible and proven prepaid and travel money automation system, designed to deliver significant cost savings and efficiency gains. Since its launch almost a decade ago, the system’s flexibility has helped travel agents, foreign exchange bureau and many companies save time, increase profits and end the potential for human error associated with the manual processing of transactions. The system’s inbuilt versatility and scope means it can be used in the processing of a wide variety of products ranging from foreign banknotes to prepaid cards and precious metals.
Source: Company press release.