Gemalto Issues More than One Million EMV Cards in Brazil

Digital security leader Gemalto, in association with Banco Santander Brasil, has deployed over one million Optelio contactless EMV cards to university students across Brazil over the course of one year—representing the biggest deployment of its kind in South America.

Issued to universities in the country with agreements with Banco Santander, the University Smart Cards (USC) combines EMV security with the convenience and speed of contactless transactions using MasterCard’s PayPass features.

The Gemalto-Santander solution also features a digital ID for access to university facilities in addition to various everyday features and student services.

The multi-application card allows students to access their bank accounts and make low-value purchases. Students can also use exclusive discounts at participating bookstores, study centers, and restaurants.

Currently, there are over 3 million Santander University Smart Cards in Brazil and 7.9 million card users at 302 universities in 12 countries all over the world.

When asked if Brazil’s acceptance of contactless payments indicate a global trend of adoption, Philippe Benitez, VP of Secure Transactions at Gemalto, said: “Many of the G20 nations have moved to contactless EMV technology because of the speed and convenience it brings. In Australia, Canada and the U.K., we’ve seen extensive adoption of contactless and a real shift in consumer and retailer behavior, and we believe Brazil is part of that global trend. Brazil is in a unique position because it is quick to adopt new technologies once consumers see the benefits. As Brazil progresses in replacing cash with digital payments, both contactless cards and NFC mobile technology help accelerate the conversion.”