● BT customers now have 6 ways to pay for purchases at merchants ● 

Banca Transilvania and Garmin are launching, in a first for the Romanian market, Contactless payments via smartwatch: the ability to shop with a Garmin smartwatch that supports Pay by linking your BT Visa cards to it.

With this new way to pay at merchants, Banca Transilvania customers have access to all the features and benefits they receive when paying with their physical card or the digital card in the BT Pay app, namely: STAR loyalty points (for shopping cards) and Reward Miles (for travel cards).

With this launch alongside Garmin, Banca Transilvania is taking another step in digitalisation and in delivering positive customer experiences, giving clients no fewer than 6 ways to pay for purchases: with the physical card, the digital card in the BT Pay app, one of the BT Pay accessories (watch, bracelet, sticker — all contactless) and, from now on, with a Garmin smartwatch as well.

Statements from BT, Garmin and Visa:

• “We are delighted to add Garmin Pay to the range of payment options for Banca Transilvania customers. As more people build movement into their daily lives, their needs are evolving toward simple and convenient options — like the freedom to pay with a smartwatch at the end of a workout or a walk, without having to carry cash, a card or even a phone. This new option complements the mobile payment solutions in BT’s portfolio and confirms our commitment to expand digital options by adapting to changes in our customers’ lifestyles.” – Oana Ilas, Director Dezvoltare & Management Produse Retail, Banca Transilvania.
• “I’m pleased to announce Garmin Pay in Romania very shortly after its launch in Western markets. It is an extremely useful tool for people with an active lifestyle and for athletes who constantly need mobility. Garmin Pay is available on a range of Garmin smartwatches and will be rolled out to new models as they launch in 2019”. – Alexandru Moise, Sales & Marketing Manager Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Garmin.
• “We are pleased to take, together with Banca Transilvania, another step forward in our commitment to make payments as simple as possible for consumers and to turn connected devices into a secure environment for payments. The launch of contactless payments through smartwatches is a natural step in our long-term partnership with Banca Transilvania, the first bank in Southeast Europe to roll out earlier this year mobile payments secured by Visa’s tokenization technology. Romanians have grown accustomed in recent years to contactless payments, which offer clear advantages: speed, ease and simplicity. Small electronic devices worn as accessories carry all these advantages even further: they are in constant touch with the user and naturally integrated into their actions, which makes the payment experience intuitive and safe.” – Catalin Cretu, general manager for Romania, Croatia, Malta and Slovenia at Visa.  

5 steps to enroll your BT Visa card on your smartwatch

BT customers need a compatible device and a Garmin account enrolled on the smartphone. Enrolling your BT Visa card(s) in the app takes 5 simple steps:

• Select your device and the Garmin Pay option in the Garmin Devices section
• Set a passcode
• Add your Visa card details or scan the card using your phone’s camera
• Accept the Terms and Conditions of use
• Activate your BT Visa card in Garmin Pay by calling the BT Call Center team (0264 30 80 28; *8028)

Banca Transilvania is Romania’s card market leader, with 3.2 million cards in its portfolio and a 19% market share.