Tick-tock, tick-tock: you like shopping, right? You usually pay by card, and for a while now with the BT contactless bracelet too? We have good news: from now on you can shop by paying with … your watch, in Romania and abroad! Yes, you read that right!

If you want fast checkout, you’re into technology and “want to take it everywhere”, but you’d also like to wear a Swiss watch, the BT contactless watch is for you. Banca Transilvania has launched the BT contactless watch, which can replace your debit card when you shop. In other words, it works like a bank card, giving you access to the money in your current account at Banca Transilvania. The watches are Swiss, by Mondaine, and there are three contactless models: Classic-Ladies, Classic-Men and Premium-Unisex.

Every project has a backstory, so let’s hear the story of the BT contactless watch!

How a national first came to life in six months

The idea came right on time, after Banca Transilvania launched the contactless bracelet back in 2016. It took about six months, during which the teams involved developed and implemented the necessary technology together with partner OT-Morpho. This was also when we nailed down positioning, targeting and communications.

The bank set out on this path — adding another product to the BT Pay collection, the contactless watch alongside the contactless bracelet — on the back of spectacular growth in contactless transactions in recent years. For example, the number of contactless transactions in the first three months of this year was 4.8 times higher than in the same period of 2016, and their value grew more than sixfold.

Mondaine, a renowned Swiss watch brand, was the ideal supplier for Banca Transilvania thanks to its design style and experience with similar projects in other countries. Mondaine stands for a simple, elegant, classic design that’s cool at the same time. In short, Swiss quality, Swiss style. These watches have their own story too: fun fact — their design was inspired by the clocks in Swiss railway stations. The strap is special as well, with dedicated pockets designed to hold and protect the contactless technology BT offers its clients.

This story is possible thanks to BT’s partners who are part of it: Mondaine, OT-Morpho and MasterCard, as well as the teams in the bank with the following specialisms: Retail Product Development and Management; Projects and Data Analytics; Cards Commercial; Marketing and Communications; and IT.

Want technology literally on hand?

If the answer is YES and you’re a BT client, it’s very simple:

-         Either order the watch online, HERE, and we’ll then get in touch so you can come to the bank to pick it up and we can help you activate the contactless card

-         Or order the watch in any of our branches

If you’re not our client yet, you can become one very easily, even online: you can open a current account with BT HERE.

What it costs to have a BT contactless watch

As we were saying, the BT contactless watch comes in three models: Classic-Ladies, Classic-Men and Premium-Unisex. The price depends on the model and is between 1,090 and 1,690 lei. So roughly ≈300 euros, the average price.

The BT Pay collection: the contactless bracelet, the contactless watch. For now :)

With last year’s launch of the BT contactless bracelet, Banca Transilvania introduced the BT Pay collection — alternative payment instruments that can replace your debit card at checkout. The collection now also includes the BT contactless watch. And there’s more to come.

With the BT contactless watch, shopping runs like clockwork