MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, today announced that they have optimized their Datacard® CardWizard® instant issuance software for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) programs in Canada, allowing government benefits departments to instantly issue reloadable open-loop prepaid cards.
Instantly issuing prepaid cards under public sector managed benefit programs significantly reduces costs because it eliminates the need to produce and mail cheques, by enhancing existing branch office benefits management systems and business processes.
Datacard Group worked closely with MasterCard Canada and a card program manager to enhance the CardWizard software solution to ensure that offering instantly issued prepaid cards for government EBT programs met the appropriate guidelines. Utilizing the CardWizard issuance software and Datacard® hardware, Canadian government organizations can capture the necessary information for the benefits disbursement process, including accessing and synchronizing case management and account data for security and authentication, as well as supporting the funding management of prepaid benefits cards.
“We established a prepaid benefit card instant issuance solution for the Canadian public sector using MasterCard® prepaid open loop cards,” said David E. Orzel, Senior Vice President, Market Development, MasterCard Canada. “This product offers cardholders in EBT program a more efficient and controlled process for the disbursement of funds.”
The process works so that the CardWizard software captures and transfers the necessary data to a Datacard hardware printer, where the card is instantly personalized and issued to the cardholder at the government benefits service location. Government benefits program administrators can then easily load the card with approved funds at time of issuance, as well as subsequently transfer funds electronically to the cardholder’s account.
In addition, the beneficiary is able to select their own card PIN number at the benefit office location and immediately use the card as they would with a typical credit card, including at merchant point-of-sale (POS) terminals and supporting ATMs for cash withdrawal.
Uniquely positioned in the market to help financial institutions design any card issuance program that fits their needs, Datacard Group offers Secure Issuance Anywhere™ which provides customers the flexibility to issue secure cards and credentials anytime, anywhere. This integrated platform includes scalable and flexible hardware, software, supplies and global support–combining central issuance or instant issuance, as well as emerging NFC mobile issuance and EMV® chip card programs into a single, integrated solution.
About Datacard Group
Datacard Group is building on a 40-year heritage of innovation and customer success. Our portfolio of solutions, backed by expert service and support, enable card and secure ID programs for financial, government and other markets worldwide. With an unmatched commitment to customer satisfaction, Datacard remains the industry’s leading brand of secure ID and card personalization solutions. For more information about Datacard Group, visit www.datacard.com. Follow us on Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news. For more information, visit MasterCard Canada’s Facebook page or follow @MasterCardCa on Twitter.
EMV is a trademark owned by EMVCo,LLC (http://www.emvco.com/).