Lebanon is renowned as a shopping and fashion hub, and the country is fast emerging as one of the region’s leading markets when it comes to introducing innovative cashless payment solutions.

We recently joined hands with MasterCard and ABC Malls to launch the Bank Audi ABC MasterCard Credit Card – a one-of-its-kind payment solution that offers the ground-breaking MasterCard® PayPass™ technology that allows cardholders to Tap & Go™ as they make purchases in the mall.

This is the latest in a range of more than 50 payment solutions that we at Bank Audi have launched with MasterCard to encourage consumers in Lebanon to benefit from the many advantages of electronic payments.

We believe that contactless capabilities are a natural progression in the evolution of the payment process, and we look forward to witness the impact of these solutions towards realizing the vision of a world beyond cash.

As you might know, the one thing Turkish people love just as much as their phones is their food. Hence the idea to launch Yemeksepeti which brings consumers to their favorite food venues without any additional fee when ordering. They simply have to browse the restaurants in their geographical locations, categorize them and then place the order whenever they want!

It is crucial for us to be in every place where the consumer is. Our conviction is that mobile is the future and this is why the mobile platform is so important for us. Currently more than 20% of all orders on Yemeksepeti are done via mobile phones and we expect that it will reach over 50 % by 2015!

Since our launch, response from consumers has been fantastic. Credit card payment is extremely common to our business and enabling cashless payments  is very important  for seamless and practical experience for our customers.

As a Toronto-based business that connects millions of Canadians to thousands of merchant partners through our web properties, WagJag and Jaunt, Torstar Digital has been a cashless pioneer since acquiring WagJag in 2010.  While we’re not clearing land like pioneers of yesteryear, we do like to think that we are chopping down retail barriers, helping Canadians discover great products and services offered for sale on WagJag and Jaunt.

While Canadians are becoming decreasingly cash-dependent, direct cash transactions still account for over 40% of all payment volumes in Canada.  It should therefore be no surprise that online commerce, or eCommerce, is a small, but highly growing, sector in Canada.   Today eCommerce accounts for around 6% of all retail transactions; however, this is projected to grow to over $30B by 2015.  Ecommerce growth rates are significantly higher than offline retail growth.  Ecommerce has the opportunity to become a significant retail force in Canada providing new opportunities for retailers and consumers north of the 49^th parallel.

The fast moving mobile payment ecosystem is integral to supporting the growth of eCommerce in Canada.  At WagJag a high percentage of our transactions are done via mobile device; therefore, any tools which help Canadians enter payment information quickly, securely and efficiently through our checkout pages is incredibly helpful.

WagJag and Jaunt were excited to support the launch of MasterPass in Canada.  Providing a quick and secure payment option for our consumers is a win-win for our merchant partners and our consumers facilitating the promise of eCommerce in Canada; ensuring that WagJag is at the forefront of mobile payment innovation in Canada is certainly “Priceless”.

IN MYANMAR, no one bats an eye when someone takes out a wad of cash from a plastic bag to pay for big ticket items and up till recently, electronic payment cards were non-existent. With the recent lifting of the US sanctions, Myanmar is finally coming of age as the country opens up. We are a 100% cash society – but this is set to change as Myanmar revolutionizes its banking industry. The Myanmar Central Bank has played an important role in contributing to the setup of the Myanmar Payments Union (MPU), resulting in the introduction of the first-ever debit cards for its citizens in Sept 2012.

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon is fully embracing the call to go cashless. With the cooperation of CB Bank, we were the first hotel in town to install an ATM machine within our premises, enabling easy withdrawals of cash, especially for tourists, who previously had to carry large amounts of foreign currency and only exchange it for local kyats upon arrival in Myanmar.

Now they can withdraw money as needed with their international payment cards. Additionally, enabling our guests to settle their hotel bill electronically has provided greater convenience and security as they can carry around less cash. To also encourage our staff to be part of a cashless future, we recently opened bank accounts for our employees and now their salaries are credited directly into their accounts. From an operations perspective, we managed to cut down the time and expense spent in previously preparing envelopes of monthly salaries for our staff.

While cash is still currently the predominant method of payment in Myanmar, we believe that electronic payments will create a positive impact not just for the people, but also for the nation. Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon is ever supportive and hopes to see our country move towards a cashless future, one step at a time.

If you have used your MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus-branded cards in Myanmar, we would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let us know how MasterCard acceptance in Myanmar has impacted your trip to the Golden Land.

The event, organized by the Foundation Promoting Efficient Payments (SBEB) in collaboration with retail branch organizations, banks and MasterCard, was designed to thank all retailers and their employees in the Netherlands for their efforts to stimulate debit card use in their stores and for raising awareness of the safety and efficiency of our payment system. In the Netherlands, an average of one out of three payments are done with Maestro. The rest of them are cash. Although almost all Dutch consumers own a Maestro payment card, not every payment is done electronically at the checkout. In some situations customers are used to only paying with cash, there is a small group of consumers not yet accustomed to using a card, and others assume merchants prefer cash. The merchants’ support therefore is of great importance to MasterCard, to continue the growth of debit card transactions and further our vision of a world beyond cash.

The contactless payment experience was a great success. At the entrance of the event, all 1700 visitors received a PayPass bracelet with a credit of 7.50 euro. During the evening, everyone was able to quickly pay for drinks with the bracelets without facing any inconveniences. Remarkable was the high use of the balance checkers, small  devices with displays that allowed visitors to check the amount of credit left on the bracelet by holding it in front of the display. Based on a survey of 500 visitors, the contactless payment service and the party was ranked with an eight out of ten.

It was great to see MasterCard’s cashless technologies in action. This is the year of contactless in the Netherlands, with the introduction of contactless cards from banks ING and ABN Amro. The result is a huge penetration of Maestro services compared to other payment services in the Netherlands. In addition, mobile payments are likely to be launched with the largest banks at the end of this year. So stay tuned!

As an urban shopping center operator, I’m always on the lookout for smart and innovative solutions that bring added benefits  for everyone, including merchants and consumers. That’s why for the very first time, we installed MasterCard® PayPass™ contactless payment terminals at all the vendor booths at the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market 2012.

The Christmas Market, for six straight years, has been offering shoppers an authentic atmosphere of traditional Christmas markets in Germany. Installing the PayPass readers, has helped to speed up transaction times and ease long check-out lines that are commonplace during the busy Christmas shopping period.

Accepting PayPass cards at our Christmas Market this year has definitely brought greater convenience to both customers and merchants alike. Our customers enjoyed being able to make payments with a simple tap of their card, saving them the much needed time while doing their Christmas shopping, and our merchants were impressed by how this helped quicken the lines at their stalls during the busy Christmas season.

If you shopped at our holiday event, let us know what you thought in the comment section below.

Mori Building Co., Ltd., the operator of the Roppongi Hills luxury retail and entertainment complex, has supported the MasterCard Purchase with Purpose program since 2010. The program provides all MasterCard  cardholders with the opportunity to support children in need through their Christmas shopping or when they dine using their MasterCard cards. Read here to find out more.

The number of cashless or ‘cards only’ registers in Dutch supermarkets have increased significantly over the past three years. In part, this growth came as a result of the national Hotspot Project that began in early 2012 by the Foundation for Promoting Efficient Payments (SBEB). The goal of the initiative was to increase safety and convenience for consumers in stores that accept debit cards. In collaboration with retailers, banks, MasterCard, and the CBL national association of supermarkets, nine municipalities were selected for introducing ‘cards only’ registers to stores as an alternative to standard cash registers that accept both cash and cards. To promote the use of these cards-only registers, consumers could win prizes when paying with their Maestro debit card.

The registers were introduced city by city. The roll out in 9 cities finished in Zwolle, where a ceremony took place in one of the nearly 700 Albert Heijn stores that have been equipped with the ‘cards only’ registers since mid-October. Cees van Vliet, Chairman of the Task Force Less Cash and Retail Operations Director at Albert Heijn, submitted the final report with the results of Hotspot Project in 2012.   According to the report:

• ‘Cards Only’ Registers grew from 600 in 2009 to 4312 in 2012, spread throughout 1,500 stores across the Netherlands;
• Cashless transactions increased significantly, with the 100 millionth ‘card-only’ register transaction reached this past October; and
• Consumers responded positively to this innovation, citing they understand that it is safer for employees and find using their debit card more convenient to use than cash.

Additionally, The Minister of Security and Justice, Ivo Opstelten responded enthusiastically to the success of the project: “A great achievement! Now there is less cash and more security in stores, without costing extra! I hope that all supermarkets introduce ‘cards only’ registers in 2013. Thier success has already been proven.”

We believe at this pace, 100 million transactions at ‘card only’ registers can be expected in 2013, the same amount as the previous 3.5 years combined. However, the challenge ahead will be to convince more stores in different sectors, to introduce this type of register as well.

Are you a retailer that’s ready to cashless or ‘card only’? Let us know in the comment section below.

Having been a London taxi driver for almost 30 years, I have just about seen it all. From picking up celebrities like Bryan Ferry and Tony Bennett to helping out everyday people experiencing extraordinary days, every shift posed new challenges. But as any taxi driver will tell you, the truth is that’s the beauty of the job. So in 2010 when myself and the other Hailo founders recognized that mobile technology had the potential to deliver a game-changing experience, we jumped at the chance to join forces with three entrepreneurs and bring our problem-solving skills to the bigger stage.

And from the very start, improving the whole payment side of taxis was right at the top of our list. This is the area where many everyday taxi drivers have missed out on businesses and where passengers have experienced so much frustration. So it is with some pride that I can say that in the 12 months since launching we have already been able to eliminate the need for cash (and cash machines), local currency and paper receipts in 5 major cites in 4 different countries.

But we’re not stopping there. Working with MasterCard is helping us to introduce the benefits of our cashless taxi experience to literally millions of new customers in dozens of new cities this year.

Incredible to think that this was all just a good idea first discussed in a London cafe less than two years ago.

There are many benefits of a cashless society, including faster and easier payments.  Also, using electronic commerce over cash helps to cut down on robberies and crime making it safer for residents of the city.

In Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth largest city, Swedbank is working with a number of organizations to pursue a safer Uppsala. Police authorities have initiated a new approach for robbery and burglary in shops. We work together with them as well as with insurance companies, the Swedish Trade Federation , and the Swedish Work Environment Authority, among others in the “Store Group” in support of an initiative called “A securer Uppsala County”.  A key part of the program is educating local merchants about how they can actively prevent crimes, for example, by handling less cash. We at Swedbank no longer handle cash at our branch offices in Uppsala.  This has been in effect since May 2012, as cash has a bad effect on our environment due to transports, and with less cash, the risk of robberies decreases as well.

There are also other actors in Uppsala offering only electronic payments, such as the restaurant Sushi of Sweden noted in the video below.  Several churches in Uppsala also offer visitors the opportunity to give their donations via cards in a self-serving machine or what we in Swedish call “kollektomat”.

Right now Swedbank in Uppsala is piloting MasterCard’s mobile application KOY – an app where merchants in Uppsala can easily post great deals that users can redeem from their smartphones. In the film you will meet  Fredrik Andersson from the local grocery store Folkes Livs.  He is just one of the merchants who sees the benefits of a digital-discount coupon for his tech-savvy customers.

I hope this film will inspire others to work actively for a safe and secure cashless society!

Traditionally, you always had to take cash if you were going to a street or farmers market, as it was the only payment form accepted, but increasingly this is changing due to fruit stand owners like me.

I started accepting credit and debit cards in the beginning of 2012. Since then I have not only realized how safe and convenient this is for my customers, but importantly, have seen an increase in sales.  Today 50% of my sales are from payment cards.

Street markets are very common in the city of São Paulo, the largest South American metropolis. They are engrained in our Brazilian culture, even in an increasingly digital world. Spread all over the neighborhoods, they are a reference point where residents are able to find a wide variety of fresh foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats and spices. You can also buy flowers to decorate your house and even enjoy one of our famous combinations: the pastel with sugar cane juice.

For me, being part of the street market community is a family tradition – I have been here for over 30 years!  Some things will never change.  Like waking up early and arranging our goods in the most appetizing way, and when the sun rises we say, “Come taste it ma’am, it’s delicious”. Other things, like payment methods we welcome the change. And of course, there is always room for some good humor: Beautiful girls need not to worry about the price, they don’t pay here…

When you come to São Paulo, you are invited to my stand, not only can you pay with a card; but you can try some typical Brazilian fruit and learn more about street markets. I look forward to seeing you!

I believe that students are the true cashless pioneers. Today’s millennials, our student generation, have grown up with payment cards and efficient digital banking solutions. Students have a significant number of secure payment options to available to them everyday. Young people know better than anyone else how to make use of modern tools that are available to them.

For almost 60 years the ISIC Association, the non-profit organisation that administers and manages the ISIC card, has been providing students with the opportunity to prove their student status internationally. Since its creation by a group of innovative students from Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands in 1953, the card has been issued to more than 100 million students across 124 countries. In addition an ISIC card gives students access to over 40,000 specially negotiated student services, discounts and experiences.

The ISIC Association has a responsibility to respond to the ongoing developments and demands of the next student generation. For us it seems natural to partner with MasterCard in order to continuously improve our service level to students. MasterCard allows us to give students the option of a safe and secure payment functionality as part of their ISIC card.

For us the rationale is simple: an ISIC MasterCard provides the best of both worlds for students to support them through their student careers. A single card combines preferential access to benefits and discounts, official proof of their student identity anywhere in the world, and a safe and smart way to manage their money.

Clearly the ISIC MasterCard is today’s solution for student cashless pioneers. We know the tomorrow’s generation will have additional needs, having grown up with smartphones and internet connections in abundance. Something which ISIC and MasterCard are already preparing for.

Are you a student or parent, are you familiar with ISIC, let us know.. has the ISIC Card made your life easier?

I was born with a book in my hand.  As a child you could always find my tiny fingers wrapped around a book of some sort. As I grew, the books I read grew and this is how I developed my love for books.

I worked as a manager of a bookstore in Amsterdam for over twenty years, before I decided to start my own bookstore.  I deliberately named it “De Nieuwe Boekhandel”, which is Dutch for “The New Bookstore”, because I wanted to show that you can still be very innovative in an industry that is ailing from the rapid digitalization.

I constantly try to stay at the forefront of developments. I not only connect with my clients in the bookstore, but also keep them up to date or talk with them via twitter and Facebook.  I have an online bookstore, where I sell physical and electronic books and I frequently organize literature events and lectures for booklovers.

This is no different with the method of payments I chose for the store. I opted for a card only policy, because it is more convenient for my clients and my employees.  Queues are shorter, my employees won’t need to handle cash and spend time counting the register after closing time. It is also more transparent for the tax governing bodies, as all our revenue passes through a checking account.

Moreover, it is a safe way to do business. I want to focus on what I love the most and that is selling books, without having to think about the possibility of robbery or theft.

Since we are the new book store, I make it my job to keep track of all new developments, including the payment industry.  I do not exclude that in the future we will transfer to a new and more advanced way of payment to make for an even better experience for my customers.

Many nations in the world including Hungarians often struggle to find the right balance between tradition and innovation. Our theatre, now exactly 30 years old, decided to put on a brave, new face with our redesigned theatre front and café. But it is not only the exterior that changed. We have also become the first cafeteria in the country and perhaps in the whole of Europe that accepts only electronic payments during regular daily business hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Some might think that the dethronement of ‘King Cash’ has been a dramatic move from us in a country where the payment environment is still dominated largely by notes and coins. Surely, operating a cashless retail unit of any kind is not without any risk, but we strongly believe that our audience will be able to identify with this innovative concept and see our philosophy behind it. In fact when doing a survey amongst our customers, nearly 80 % of them said that they would be prepared to drop cash and to go for electronic payments!

For us as a leading contemporary playhouse, it seemed pretty natural to find new ways of doing things and working with MasterCard has given us the idea that seems so obvious now: Why not have a place without the use of cash? It is brave and unusual. It will make people think! After all this is what we do every night on stage!

When you enter this new space, be prepared that  you might be engaged in some passionate conversations. Can we live without the use of cash? Can we make a better world by using less cash?

While it may not be our task as a theatre to answer these questions we are glad that we can start a conversation towards something that we believe is the future.

A recent BBC report found that 80% of transactions at Ozon.ru, Russia’s equivalent to Amazon.com, are made in cash.

As the majority of transactions within Russia are carried out with cash, most people are shocked when they hear me say that your mobile phone can replace your wallet and that many purchase transactions will not require a pin-code or card signature.

As the leading Russian telecom network, MTS seeks to offer clients cutting edge technologies and solutions. In a new but extremely promising market, this is our first project with a payment scheme and a bank.

We showed the first PayPass-enabled NFC smartphone in May of this year. Now, any client can buy an NFC-ready smartphone or transfer their mobile phone into an NFC enabled device with a special antenna. The technology definitely left an impression.

The benefits of a cashless society are countless – from safer money transactions to more convenient and quicker purchase processes. As we see it, in the next 5 years about half of the payments in Russia may become cashless. MTS looks forward to actively spreading the PayPass technology in Russia together with MasterCard.

We all want to make our daily activities as simple and convenient as possible.  In my role as head of Cards and Payments at Sovereign-Santander US, I see how we can drive this simplicity through electronic and mobile payments.

Earlier this year, I conducted a personal experiment by leaving cash at home and seeing if I could go an entire day using only my Sovereign Debit MasterCard.  During this experiment, I experienced first-hand the benefits of going cashless and the safety and convenience of using my Sovereign Debit MasterCard for everyday purchases, large and small.

This simple test has helped us at Sovereign-Santander to look for ways to bring this same experience to our customers by encouraging them to go cashless and experience a larger set of rewards when they use their Sovereign Debit MasterCard for purchases that they might normally pay for with cash.  You never know what types of experiences you’ll have in a cash-free world.

Take a look at the following video and let us know if you see some of the same benefits I experienced during my cash-free day.

“MiFon” is an innovative mobile payments program created to provide access to financial services for consumers in underserved communities in Mexico. This program is the result of a partnership between Banorte, the third largest bank in Mexico, Telecomm Telegrafos, a government entity responsible for providing basic telecommunications and financial services to citizens in rural and underserved communities in Mexico, and MasterCard.

Santiago Nuyoó in Oaxaca México, a small rural community with a population under 2,000, is located in the Mixteca Mountains which is about 240 kilometers away from the capital and previously did not have any type of traditional financial services available. Now, with the implementation of the MiFon services, it is a true success story for the use of Mobile Payment Services.

Through MiFon and its mobile phone’s SMS functionalities, habitants of Santiago Nuyoo can now count on a tool that enables them to make person-to-person payments, have a “debit mobile” account, and have access to a Banorte MasterCard card that enables them to make purchases in merchant locations and access their money through ATMs at the Telecomm Telegrafos and Banorte branches.

Here’s their story…

In some parts of the world e-Commerce and e-Payments are mature developments and expected, but elsewhere, like in Oman, the emergence of electronic payments and the benefits it can bring is just beginning to come to fruition. For example, one of the first things we did to modernize and improve the “e-environment” in Oman was to join hands with MasterCard to implement a National e-Payment Gateway system. The MasterCard Internet Gateway Service (“MiGS”) is a modern e-Payment Gateway system operating worldwide to provide payment services for the e-Commerce industry, allowing merchants and government departments to run business operations on-line, and of course, giving consumers the ability to shop, pay bills, and even donate to their favorite causes.

Dar Al Atta’a is one of the Omani charitable organizations which found great benefits in the e-Payment Gateway, as the emergence of electronic payments has made donating to the charity a lot easier. In the past, people who wanted to donate had to go to the banks or physically come to the donation offices to make a payment towards the charity. With the new system, donators can simply go online and contribute with the press of a button, simplifying the process for them as well as the organization. Therefore, the introduction of electronic donations has not only resulted in added convenience for all involved, but also helped increase Dar Al Atta’s volume of donations.

I am pleased to see the public services become faster and more effective for the residents of Oman. The National e-Payment Gateway leverages the MiGS system to provide online payment solutions to merchants from Government ministries, private sector merchants and charitable organizations in Oman. The e-government initiative was built to transform the country into an advanced e-government, and has brought the services of all ministries and government departments under one roof, giving Omani consumers easy access to numerous services.

In your opinion as a consumer, what are the benefits of e-Commerce?

Have you already met with Bea and Gea? No?

Well, Bea & Gea are two very bright and talkative women.  Their mission as ABN AMRO Bank ambassadors was to experiment how you can make it through one week without cash?! During their no cash journey in Amsterdam, as they were doing their shopping, enjoying their leisure activities and even buying a car, they run into hilarious adventures.

Their adventures were posted  - in Dutch of course – on the ABN AMRO YouTube Channel.  Close to 300,000 viewers witnessed how Bea & Gea addressed cash payment issues concerning both consumers and businesses.  On the last day of their cashless week, Bea & Gea focused on the use of cash. They followed a consumer from an ATM to a store and questioned the use of cash to buy a magazine. Bea & Gea challenged the lady merchant who, at the end of the day, stores the money in a sealed bag and return it to the bank.

Bea & Gea’s conclusion:  this endless cycle of cash, completed hundred thousands of times every day is useless!!

Bea and Gea show us how pointless cash can be. Understandably there are still locations where payments can only be done with cash, but transactions with a debit or a credit card make life much easier – no small change in your pockets, no dragging yourself to the ATM in the rain, no chance of losing your money and less need to worry about theft and security!

This ABN AMRO campaign completes a suite of offers that range from the Financial Diary to Mobile Banking and Internet Banking to create real time insight for customers into their financial situation. Our customers can thus control their spend 24/7 online real-time.

Have you ever tried living without cash? Please share (y)our story!

Quest Diagnostics has been in the market since 1973. We offer over 8,000 medical diagnostic services to patients in 26 branches located throughout Mexico.  We have been accepting electronic payments for over 10 years and have experienced the benefits of introducing and promoting such forms of payment at our branches.

Card acceptance has not only improved the quality of the services we can provide our patients, but has allowed them to enjoy special benefits, such as several months without interest, discounts on diagnostic testing services and exclusive promotions. In many instances, patients have been able to carry out important medical tests that wouldn’t have been possible without these flexible payment options.

We have also directly benefited from accepting payment cards as they provide us with greater administrative controls and added security in our daily operations.

When thinking of food trucks in Puerto Rico most people picture low quality food, eating on the go and paying in cash. However, when I started my own food truck business on the streets of Puerto Rico, my goal was to challenge that notion and do the exact opposite.

Based on this concept, we created El Ñaqui, a gourmet food truck equipped with a full kitchen, just like the ones you find in any top-rated restaurant, only that our kitchen is on wheels to make it more accessible to our on-the-go customers.  Our creative menu features delicious dishes prepared with top-shelf products and ingredients, at an affordable price.

In addition, we wanted to adapt to today’s consumers, who are highly connected via Facebook and Twitter and expect fast and efficient service. In doing so, the most important step was to offer our customers the convenience of paying with credit and debit cards. This allows us to serve our customers in a fast, simple and secure way, while strengthening us as a business, and giving us greater peace of mind thanks to added security.

Our customers only need to pick what they’d like to eat from our eclectic menu, and we handle the rest. And that is what El Ñaqui is all about: flavor, the highest quality, convenience and security.

Who knew that a food truck could be all that?

On the road, I’ve taken on all kinds of challenges (ranging from Oklahoma drills with the New York City Gators, to eating a 4.5 lbs steak in one hour) all of which which were filmed and posted on facebook.com/goingtolike. The response was amazing; up to the point where my likers started proposing and inventing extra challenges in exchange for likes! Ergo, this trip has already been amazing and I can only guess it will get better and better.

I  have already traveled quite a bit in my life and during each experience I carried an extensive amount of cash on me.  I had to hide it in my backpack, belt, shoes … just in case! Keeping track of my money wasn’t always easy because I didn’t have a clear indication on the amount I had already spent or how much I still needed to spend.

On this trip I had the opportunity to use the “Maxi” prepaid MasterCard issued by AXA bank and very quickly I realized how easy and safe it was. I almost never have to go to an ATM because I can use the card almost anywhere. This means: no more worries about being robbed or embarrassing shoe moments at the counter. I can only say this card should be every traveler’s financial best friend because it makes your travel quicker, easier and most importantly, safer!

Not only am I the Mayor of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality in Turkey, but more importantly, I am also a citizen and consumer here.  As such, I understand the various difficulties related to cash usage – it’s inefficient and germ-ridden – and as Mayor, wondered how Eskişehir would be without money.

Our vision was to create a valid money card to use all over Eskisehir – -we wanted our city to become a cashless model for all other cities. This was achieved with the renovation of our mass transportation infrastructure and implementation of an electronic ticket system. Launched in December 2011, the Eskisehir money card (Esparacard, as it is known locally) really put us ahead of the curve in terms of modern payment technologies.

Today, our renovated electronic ticket system is a modern system integrated with a banking infrastructure that enables the usage of payment cards from all the banks. It was the expertise, collaboration, and partnership between the Electronic Ticket System Operation of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, Garanti Bank and MasterCard that brought Esparacard and our vision to life. Esparacard is also the first transport card with M/Chip Advance, the new payment platform of MasterCard.

Best of all, the people of Eskişehir have the opportunity to use their Esparacards not only on trams and buses, but also at cinemas, restaurants, and for shopping. So far, we’ve served as a model for many cities in Turkey and now I’m sure that we shall set the world an example with Esparacard.

Please enjoy this short video about our beautiful city and the launch of Esparacard, and we look forward to welcoming you in Eskisehir.

Throughout the month there were only two situations where I was unable to go cashless. One was during a taxi ride. Although some taxis in Brazil already accept electronic payments, this particular cab only took cash. The other situation was to pay for my daughter’s nanny, which I think is a great opportunity to explore for the prepaid  market.

I really enjoyed this experience. I’d like to thank MasterCard for this great opportunity, and I truly believe that our society can go cashless in the near future.

I am Roberta Viñas from MasterCard’s São Paulo, Brazil office.

Mennica Polska was founded in 1766 and since then it has been a leading producer of coins and collector items both in Poland and in the world. Currently, we are the sole producer of circulation and collector coins emitted by the National Bank of Poland and foreign issuers. Our designers and minters complete orders for foreign emitters and numismatic firms as well.

In recent years we have expanded our activities into new services, such as electronic payments. Our considerable asset is vast experience in delivering and operating public transport ticket sales systems.

In total, we have at our disposal the sales network of over 1,000 ticket vending machines in Warsaw, Wrocław, Łódź, Lublin and Bydgoszcz. All of them accept debit card payments.

We have pioneered MasterCard PayPass payments in Poland in the mobile public transport ticket vending machines. Last year we installed over 800 machines accepting MasterCard PayPass contactless cards in Wrocław, one of the biggest cities in Poland.

We decided to introduce cashless payment in our vending machines, because they are faster and more comfortable for passengers. The vending machines do not need cash withdrawal or bullion fess, which is also a good solution for us.