JCB International has taken another step forward in the French payments space via a partnership with La Banque Postale, a prominent postal bank in the country.
The partnership will focus on facilitation of seamless payment transactions for JCB cardmembers in France. This will take place in several stages according to the provider’s plans, with a particular emphasis on using the bank’s extensive ATM network.
La Banque Postale has 17,000 points of contact across France including 7,000 post offices and 6,000 ATMs. The first phase of the rollout gave JCB cardmembers access to the ATM network, with the second due to follow.
This second phase will allow cardmembers to pay for purchases in France directly on the La Banque Postale retail terminals. The final phase will move into online payments as part of JCB’s global ambitions.
Jean-Marc Vedrune, Director of Electronic Payment at La Banque Postale, said: “This strategic partnership with JCB, represents a significant step forward in facilitating payment transactions especially for international tourists and professionals travelling to France.
“With a history of involvement in various international payment initiatives, both in terms of transfers and the acceptance of foreign cards in our network, it shows our joint commitment to meeting the needs of our customers, with JCB being the ideal partner for us to provide seamless and secure transactions.”
The agreement marks JCB’s latest efforts in France, where the company has been targeting an enhanced presence in the national payments space for some time. Late last year it partnered with FrenchSys to facilitate certification for cards at payment terminals throughout the country.
Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director of JCB International (Europe) Ltd, added: “With more and more JCB cardmembers planning their next vacation in Europe, France remains a popular destination for travellers looking to make the most of their time abroad – whether for leisure or business purposes.
“This is why we’re excited to be partnering with La Banque Postale, one of France’s leading financial organisations, to offer our over 156 million cardmembers even more ways to spend easily and conveniently throughout France.”
