Oberthur Technologies (OT), a world leader in digital security solutions for the mobility space, and Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance have concluded a new partnership to launch a service which enables PIN codes to be securely delivered via SMS. CA Consumer Finance, which notably operates in France under the Sofinco brand, is the first credit institution to offer its partners and their customers a card which can be activated in just a few minutes in complete safety.
Cardholders equipped with the OT solution will obtain their code almost instantly. It will allow them to use their card as soon as they receive it. This offers a practical response to the needs expressed by partners of CA Consumer Finance and its customers, in search of mobility, flexibility and security.
OT's SMART PIN solution, which has been in use since 2009, secures the sending of codes via SMS. It is popular both for its speed of use and its reliability. Adoption of this solution to activate cards reduces fraud by eliminating correspondence by post, and features double encryption of the PIN, which is stored and delivered in a secure way, ensuring better traceability of the code's transmission and faster access to credit.
"Mobility and security are at the heart of the solutions we offer at OT and we are delighted to allow CA Consumer Finance to take a further step in the services offered to their partners. SMART PIN has already proved popular with several banks and offers numerous advantages in terms of speed and security,†says Eric Duforest, Managing Director of OT's Financial Services Institutions activity.
"Responding to our partners' challenges means paying special attention to their customers' expectations and needs. The solution developed with OT responds to three of our key objectives: innovation, simplification of the customer experience and their satisfaction,†adds Florence Burdin, Director of Operations of Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance France.
ABOUT OBERTHUR TECHNOLOGIES
OT is a world leader in digital security solutions for the mobility space. OT has always been at the heart of mobility, from the first smart cards to the latest contactless payment technologies which equip millions of smartphones. Present in the Payment, Telecommunications and Identity markets, OT offers end-to-end solutions in the Smart Transactions, Mobile Financial Services, Machine-to-Machine, Digital Identity and Transport & Access Control fields. OT employs over 6 000 employees worldwide, including close to 700 R&D people. With more than 50 sales offices across 5 continents and 1 manufacturing hub by region, OT's international network serves clients in 140 countries.
For more information: www.oberthur.com
ABOUT CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CONSUMER FINANCE
Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, the result of the merger between Sofinco and Finaref on 1 April 2010, is a major player in the consumer finance market with a managed loan book of €69 billion at end-December 2014 and operations in 21 countries.
The group distributes a broad range of personal loans and associated services through all distribution channels, including direct sale, point-of-sale financing (automobile and household equipment) and partnerships. In France, its main brands are Sofinco, Finaref, Viaxel and Creditlift Courtage. Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance is a leading commercial partner to the major retail chains, specialised retailers and institutions in the countries where it operates.
For more information: www.ca-consumerfinance.com
MEDIA CONTACTS
Oberthur Technologies
Clotilde Huet
Tél.: +33 1 78 14 76 75
c.huet@oberthur.com