Chase’s “blink” cards, launched about a year ago, are now in the hands of some seven million users. In addition, card members in the nine states that have received the contactless cards can now use them at some 25,000 merchant locations.
WILMINGTON, Del.–One year after launching its contactless credit cards - Chase cards with “blink” - Chase Bank U.S.A., N.A., a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), has issued nearly seven million cards with blink to cardmembers in Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. From “blinking” Slurpees(R) at 7-Eleven to Shorti(TM) Hoagies at Wawa, Chase cardmembers may now use their cards with blink at more than 25,000 merchant locations nationwide, ranging from convenience stores to sports stadiums.
Partnering with Visa U.S.A. and MasterCard International, Chase was the first issuer to broadly offer contactless credit cards to consumers. Today, Chase cardmembers across the country speed through checkout lines faster and more conveniently at merchant locations including 7-Eleven(R) stores, AMC Theatres(R), Cinemark USA, CVS/pharmacy(R), RaceTrac(R), Regal Entertainment Group(R), Sheetz, Walgreens and Wawa.
Redefining Payments in a blink Merchants and consumers benefit from blink with the speed, convenience and easy-to-use contactless payment method. Since 2005, blink has transformed everyday payments for some merchants and consumers by:
– Increasing the average ticket sale for some merchants by 40 percent more than cash purchases; – Increasing the frequency of everyday purchases at many contactless-enabled merchants by 35 percent over credit cards with traditional magnetic stripes; – Reducing consumers’ waiting time in line by 15 to 20 percent in stores and 40 percent at the drive-thru for quick service restaurants; and – Reducing consumers’ average transaction time by 10 to 40 percent.
“blink transactions have proven to be a big hit with Wawa customers,” said Bob Riesenbach, New Initiatives Manager for Wawa. “blink has enabled us to make our customers’ and associates’ lives easier by speeding up our checkout time at the register.”
Chase is also changing sports fans’ experiences at stadiums and ballparks. Chase has partnerships with the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres that not only provide fans an opportunity to apply for a co-branded credit card, but also use their Chase card with blink to enjoy the game and not wait in concession lines. Additionally, there are dozens of professional stadiums around the nation that accept Chase cards with blink.
As a possible extension of contactless payments, Chase participated in the first large-scale Near Field Communication (NFC) trial by blink-enabling mobile phones to deliver mobile phone contactless payments to Atlanta Hawks and Thrasher fans at Philips Arena.
“Contactless commerce has experienced tremendous growth,” said Erik Michielsen, director of ABI Research’s RFID and M2M practice. “We expect contactless payments to continue to grow, and companies like Chase contribute to making merchant and consumer adoption a reality.”
Industry Recognition Since its debut in 2005, Chase cards with blink have received recognition from leading industry organizations including Frost & Sullivan (2006 Excellence in Technologies Awards), the Internet Advertising Competition (Outstanding Microsite), the Smart Card Alliance (2005 Outstanding Smart Card Achievement Award and Financial Payments Innovation Award) and VRL Publishing/Cards International (Best New Credit Card Product Launch).
Near Field Communications News and InsightExplore more developments dealing with the implementation of Near Field Communications, a short-range wireless technology that promises to revolutionize contactless identification, payment, access, and more. Click to visit NFCNews.
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