Banca Transilvania is Romania’s largest card issuer, with 3 million cards in its portfolio. With a 20% market share, BT is also the leader in Romania by card transaction volumes.

“At BT, our card story began in 2000, when we launched our first card with a team of seven. We went on to launch BT Visa and Mastercard cards — with different benefits for different customer segments — along with many successful projects and results. We are continuing this success story, so we’re preparing new features in BT Pay, namely alternative payment methods that will give customers new experiences, greater mobility and convenience” says Gabriela Nistor, Deputy CEO, Retail Banking, Banca Transilvania, and Chair of the Executive Committee, Visa Romanian Member Forum.

BT’s performance in cards:

• In 2013, BT had 2 million cards issued, and in 2007, 1 million;
• +23% in card transaction volumes, June 2017 vs. June 2016;
• ≈20% of transactions are contactless, which represents an increase of over 450% in June 2017 compared with June 2016;
• BT’s offering: around 20 types of cards;
• BT network: 40,000 POS terminals, 1,200 ATMs and almost 160 BT Express Plus multifunctional ATMs.

Firsts in the alternative payments market to which BT has contributed:

• BT Visa Platinum, the most exclusive card at the time of launch (2006);
• BT Mastercard Forte, a card designed exclusively for doctors (2007);
• The ability to transfer money via ATM, a service launched together with Western Union — a world first (2010);
• Card PIN delivered by SMS (2014);
• The option for holders of Mastercard and Maestro cards issued in Romania to receive money at an ATM; the project was implemented together with Western Union and Mastercard (2015);
• BT contactless wristband (2016) and the BT contactless watch (2017), Romania’s first wearables payment alternatives;
• Livia the robot, a modern way to communicate with BT customers via Facebook and Skype (2017).

Depending on the card held, BT customers benefit from: the STAR loyalty program; credit; interest-free instalments for purchases; loyalty points or Reward Miles; travel insurance abroad; access to airport lounges; personalization with the image of their choice; and card management via BT24 Internet Banking & Mobile Banking, etc.

Banca Transilvania was named Bank of the Year in cards 8 times between 2007 and 2016, based on market analyses conducted by NoCash.

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Multimedia:

• Infographic card results
• Historical card timeline on the BT Blog
• Download images
• Online platform Intreb BT, with questions & answers about cards
• Hashtag: #bancatransilvania

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