Maatcard to be launched in Cameroon.

An innovative payment card, the Maatcard, is to be launched in Cameroon. Besides offering the traditional facilities of a standard pre-paid debit card, the Maatcard has another level of security with an acoustic chip using nCryptone technology. That enables doubly secure telephone banking via an international freephone number. Prior to hearing a numerical menu, the card's button must be pressed while held to the phone's mouthpiece which identifies the card before the standard four number pin code is requested.

The system has been installed for its first bank distributor, Union Bank of Cameroon and a pilot phase launched at the beginning the year. The card should be available to Union Bank customers by the middle of the year. Cardholders will be able to make remittances, top-up air time, pay utility bills and transfer credit to other cards.

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