CaribPR Wire

Bluefin and Powertranz, who already provide the first and only integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and PCI-validated P2PE in the Caribbean, can now support J.E.T.S. debit card

CaribPR Wire, Hamilton, Bermuda and Atlanta, GA, Thurs, June 9, 2022: Bluefin, the leading provider of data and payment security technologies including PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, and Powertranz, the local leader in Card Present gateway/payment processing for the Caribbean, announced support of local Jamaican debit card, J.E.T.S., together with the first secure, self-integrated contactless kiosks with validated P2PE for the market.

The companies introduced the first self-integrated contactless kiosk solution for the Caribbean last year that includes Bluefin as the validated P2PE provider, PowerTranz as the Card Present gateway/payment processor, and NRT kiosks that utilize Advanced Mobile Payments’ 6500 unattended devices.

Bluefin, Powertranz and NRT teamed with acquirer Scotiabank to develop a solution for C&W Communications, the leading telecommunications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, which included developing the payment application, integrating the device in the kiosk software, and certifying the device with Fiserv for Mastercard, VISA, Discover and AMEX.  C&W Communications operates over 100 NRT-Opal bill payment kiosks in 14 countries in the Caribbean.

Now the solution supports the J.E.T.S. MultiLink debit card in Jamaica, a critical part of the financial landscape. J.E.T.S. Limited is an electronic banking service company operating Jamaica’s national debit card network whose registered service brand is “MultiLink”.  All J.E.T.S. member institutions, as Issuers, offer their customers access to cash from their own accounts through the MultiLink Network whether at Automated Banking Machines or at Point of Sale terminals.  MultiLink supports over 1 million users who use it to draw more than $85 Billion per year.

“We are thrilled to support the Jamaican MultiLink debit card,” said Chris Burns, CEO of Powertranz. “This is a popular card in Jamaica and it was especially important for C&W to have a chip and pin solution to accept all card payments including the J.E.T.S. multilink debit card at the kiosks.”

C&W and its partners are deploying 50 self-service kiosks across Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and will continue to deploy additional self-service kiosks across their respective Caribbean markets.

The solution will also support Trinidad and Tobago LINX debit cards later this month.  InfoLink Services, the LINX debit card switch operator, is a joint venture between the four major financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago, and was created to provide a local debit card switching infrastructure. The LINX debit chip card is a co-branded LINX/Visa debit card.

Sherie Forden, Senior Manager, C&W B2C OMNI Channels Eco-Systems said: “We are excited about this partnership with Bluefin and Powertranz. Customers love the ease and convenience of paying via debit card and this initiative will enhance the self-serve experience for FLOW customers who use our kiosks for their Bill Payments and to Top Up their mobile phones.”

“The complexity of a multi-country adoption of a uniform payment solution which supports a transnational utility service provider, an international financial institution, a local-centric payment gateway & processor, and a global Payment Council Industry certified data security provider offers a best of breed partnership to bring integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and validated P2PE to the Caribbean market,” said Eldred F. Garcia, VP of Security Solutions, Bluefin. “We are very excited to bring the much-needed installation of self-serve kiosks backed by validated PCI-validated P2PE with the inclusion of local debit to this market.”

About Powertranz

Powertranz is a sophisticated Card Present payment platform provider that processes integrated Point of Sale transactions, including EMV and PCI Validated Point to Point Encryption (P2PE), in Bermuda and the Caribbean marketplace. Powertranz is the first provider of PCI Validated P2PE in the Caribbean via its partnership with Bluefin. The company is based in Bermuda, along with its sister company, First Atlantic Commerce. For more information, please visit https://firstatlanticcommerce.com/powertranz/.

About Bluefin

Bluefin is the recognized integrated payments leader in encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data. The company’s product suite includes solutions for contactless, face-to-face, call center, mobile, Ecommerce and unattended payments and data in the healthcare, higher education, government, and nonprofit industries. The company’s 200 global partners serve 20,000 enterprise and software clients operating in 47 countries. For more information, visit https://www.bluefin.com/.

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• Mastercard is bringing contactless acceptance to the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, enabling fans to make fast, simple, and secure payments

CaribPR Wire, HAMILTON, Bermuda, Thurs. Oct. 28, 2021: Moving toward a world beyond cash, Mastercard is partnering with Butterfield to bring its cardholders a fully contactless payment experience at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, an official PGA TOUR event that will be held at the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, October 25 to 31.

In addition to contactless acceptance at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Butterfield Mastercard cardholders will enjoy exclusive opportunities, which will make their experience and attendance to the event a priceless one. With this partnership, Mastercard demonstrates its continued commitment to provide consumers with Priceless experiences that bring fans closer to the action and to see the world’s best golfers compete.  “Alongside our partners at Butterfield, we’re committed to celebrating and supporting the shared passions of our communities and are thrilled to provide the resources needed to help Bermuda continue to thrive in an increasingly contactless world,” said Marcelo Tangioni, president of Mastercard’s Caribbean Division.

Technology has taken a front seat in our world due to the unexpected arrival of COVID-19. In this new world, Bermuda is leading the way as one of the world’s first countries that has eliminated the use of paper notes, choosing to go totally contactless. In 2018, Bermuda began the process of adding the “tap-and-go” technology, to enhance card security and give customers a quicker checkout process.  Card usage is high in general in the Caribbean region, especially in Barbados and Puerto Rico; while mobile payments were already gaining traction in 2020 and now have increased widely in markets such as the Bahamas, according to data provided by Finextra.

As a result of the challenges presented by COVID-19, consumers are adopting new payment habits at an accelerated pace, according to the Mastercard New Payment Index conducted in 18 countries, including several markets in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The study shows nearly 90% of in-person transactions globally take place at a contactless-enabled merchant, and nearly all merchant categories saw an increase in contactless transactions as a share of total in-person transactions year-over-year in the first quarter of 2021.

Using contactless payment methods while at sports events, such as golf, is especially convenient, as it reduces the inconvenience of carrying cash, including having to purchase local currency (if applicable), carrying large amounts of cash, or running out of cash in a restaurant, golf facility or other.  Places such as Bermuda that have adopted this method early – the first country to formally adopt a non-paper money economy will be Sweden in 2023—are positioned to attract technology-oriented, savvy, and affluent tourists to enjoy their sports events.

For more information about the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, please visit www.bermudachampionship.com. For more information about Mastercard and its technology-driven solutions for customers who are seeking priceless experience, please visit www.mastercard.com.

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About Mastercard (NYSE:MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

www.mastercard.com

About Butterfield Bermuda Championship

The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is an annual stop on the PGA TOUR. To date, the tournament has raised over $400,000 for local charities. This is the first PGA TOUR event ever held in Bermuda, highlighted by a field that includes a minimum of four Bermudians who qualify to compete via a Local Qualifying event. Scheduled for October 28 to 31 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, the 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship will feature a field of 132 players, 72 holes of stroke play and a purse of US $6.5 million. This official FedEx Cup event will showcase Bermuda to the world with 14 hours of live Golf Channel broadcast. For more information, visit bermudachampionship.com and connect with the tournament on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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New 7-night Cruises Feature Perfect Day at CocoCay and an Overnight in Bermuda

MIAMI, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Vacationers looking to soak up the sun and walk the pink sand beaches of Bermuda and the white sandy beaches of The Bahamas this summer need look no further than Vision of the Seas. Beginning June and through August, Royal Caribbean International will bring more adventure to the tropics with a series of new 7-night cruises from first-time homeport Bermuda. In store for guests who sail on Vision is an overnight to explore Bermuda’s culture, history and cuisine as well as a full day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s top-rated private island destination in The Bahamas.

The new 2021 summer itineraries from Bermuda will open for bookings on Monday, March 29 and depart as soon as June 26. Sailing with vaccinated crew, the cruises – at this time – will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results. This current health and safety measure, like others, may evolve as they are evaluated on an ongoing basis.

“We are thankful to the government and people of Bermuda for welcoming us to their beautiful island nation with open arms as Vision of the Seas’ new homeport. This is another step in our safe and measured return to sailing beginning in June,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Travelers are eager to venture out gradually and start cruising again. By adding a second unique option to sail the Caribbean from a destination as rich and vibrant as Bermuda, we’re offering guests choice in how they can enjoy their well-deserved vacations this summer.”

The pink sand beaches and charming, colorful homes of Bermuda will be where vacationers can start and end their 7-night cruise in paradise, a destination that is also a prime spot for travelers to extend their time ashore, before or after the cruise, by staying at one of the island’s world-class hotels and resorts. While Vision is docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard, guests can enjoy quality time exploring the island nation’s culture and natural beauty throughout an overnight stay.

Plus, guests of all ages will have the chance to add to the excitement with a visit to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay. The private island destination is home to a lineup of first-of-their-kind thrills and one-of-a-kind ways to chill, ranging from 13 jaw-dropping waterslides at Thrill Waterpark, including the tallest waterslide in North America – Daredevil’s Peak; Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean; Up, Up & Away, the helium balloon that floats up to 450 feet in the air; and the first floating cabanas in The Bahamas at Coco Beach Club.

“Bermuda has safely and responsibly managed the reopening of its tourism economy by air, and we will meet the challenge of doing the same for the cruise industry. We look forward to homeporting Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas this June as part of the island’s strategic tourism recovery planning which, as always, is guided by science,” said Premier the Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, Bermuda.

Vacationers can rest assured their well-being and that of the crew members and communities visited are Royal Caribbean’s top priorities. Details on the health and safety measures to be implemented will be announced at a later date. The comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures to come will continue to be led by science and leverage expert guidance from the Healthy Sail Panel, Royal Caribbean Group’s Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer, and local government and health authorities.

In addition, travelers must meet the travel requirements of Bermuda. This currently includes receiving a negative PCR test result before traveling, testing upon arrival into the country and filling out appropriate entry forms. The most up-to-date policies can be found on Bermuda’s website.

“We look forward to welcoming Royal Caribbean passengers back to our shores and the opportunity for pre- and post-cruise stays in Bermuda. I am very excited that Bermuda will commence safe cruising this summer with our partner Royal Caribbean for their homeporting initiative from Bermuda to their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay,” said The Hon. W. Lawrence Scott, JP, MP, Minister of Transport, Bermuda.

Royal Caribbean’s 7-night sailings from Bermuda continue the cruise line’s measured and safe return to cruising the world once again, following months of successful cruises in Singapore with more than 50,000 guests to date who have now sailed aboard Quantum of the Seas, and the recent announcements of plans for the highly anticipated Odyssey of the Seas to cruise from Haifa, Israel and cruises from The Bahamas with Adventure of the Seas. For more information on Vision’s new summer cruises, click here.

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 18 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites.

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