Prepaid Financial Services Launch SmartPayCard Prepaid MasterCard® in Slovenia

LONDON, July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Ground-breaking Initiative Represents the First Domestically Issued Prepaid MasterCard Launched in Slovenia

Prepaid Financial Services (PFS), a leading provider of global prepaid solutions and a MasterCard prepaid partner, has announced the launch of the SmartPayCard Prepaid MasterCard card in Slovenia, in a ground-breaking move to introduce the first domestically issued Prepaid MasterCard launched in Slovenia.

The SmartPayCard is available in Euro currency and can be purchased at several retail outlets in Slovenia, over the internet and through the MONETA service, which offers the ability to purchase the cards via SMS. Currently two versions of the new card are available - SmartPayCard Simple and SmartPayCard Premium.

The SmartPayCard Simple card is a non-reloadable virtual prepaid card which can be loaded with up to €250 and is pre-activated and ready to use immediately upon loading, with no monthly fee chargeable for the first 12 months. As a virtual card, there is no ATM withdrawal and it is ideal for online purchases.

The SmartPayCard Premium card is a reloadable prepaid card with a €15 load limit for verified cards, with low monthly service charge and 36 month validity. The card is available as both a virtual or physical card, with ATM withdrawals available on the physical card.

Noel Moran, CEO of PFS, stated: "We are delighted to be the first prepaid provider to launch a domestically issued prepaid MasterCard card in Slovenia and this represents another excellent first for the PFS Team. Over the last 12 months, we have launched new programmes in Botswana, Netherlands, France and Germany. This launch is further proof of our fast growing global operations. The SmartPay Card launch introduces an innovative payment solution for the people of Slovenia and we are proud to be leading these prepaid developments across the region."

The SmartPayCard can be used for shopping online, for safe transfer of money whilst travelling and for sharing funds with your family and friends by using secondary cards. The card can also be used for managing travel, wages, fuel and housing costs among others, as well as on gaming websites (for deposits and withdrawals of winnings). As a prepaid MasterCard, the SmartPayCard can be used at Point of Sale (POS) at over 33 million locations worldwide as well as 2 million ATMs for withdrawals (Premium Card only) that display the MasterCard Acceptance Mark.

Igor Bernot, CEO at SmartPayCard, commented: "SmartPayCard is more than just a card, it is a concept. It instantly connects any user to any MasterCard merchant globally. SmartPayCard connects the MasterCard network with issuer and retail networks and offers Simple and Premium solutions to users and 'White Label' partners.

"SmartPayCard enables users to achieve maximum security and complete privacy with their on-line and electronic payments. The cards have their own on-line accounts, which are not directly connected to the user's bank. The instant issue cards carry generic non-personalised names, so users need not reveal any personal details or provide any documents (within certain limits). The SmartPayCard combines the multiple benefits of an instantly available, fast & secure prepaid card that is simple to use, has flexible pricing and provides complete privacy while paying on-line or at POS.

"By connecting Moneta - the payment solution of Telekom Slovenije, with the instant process of issuing and loading the SmartPayCard, we have enabled over 1 million of our telecom users to instantly obtain and load new, single load or reloadable prepaid MasterCard cards, with their mobile phone, wherever they are in the world, and pay the card value later via their telecom invoice.

"We are really happy to have launched SmartPayCard and we believe that we have created this new extremely useful payment solution for our customers."

Find out more about the SmartPayCard prepaid cards via the SmartPayCard website which is available in both Slovenian and English, at http://www.smartpaycard.net.

The SmartPayCard Prepaid MasterCard is issued by Prepaid Financial Services Limited pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard and the MasterCard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. Prepaid Financial Services Limited is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, 36 Carnaby Street London, W1F 7DR. Reg. No.: 554603. Distribution of the SmartPayCard and Customer Service is carried out by mc2 d.o.o., Slovenia.

Notes to Editors

About Prepaid Financial Services:

Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) Ltd. is a multi-award winning global prepaid programme manager, e-money Issuer and a MasterCard® prepaid partner, operating out of the UK. PFS is authorised and regulated as an e-money issuer by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and have passported our e-money license across the SEPA region to enable card issuance in up to 32 countries.

In addition to programme management and issuance, PFS also offer BIN sponsorship and processing services for entities running or planning to run prepaid programmes globally.

PFS manage multiple programmes processing millions of transactions every week and our products are utilised by Governments, Local Authorities, blue chip corporations, SMEs and individual consumers utilising our cutting edge, secure technology.

Since our launch in 2008, PFS has rapidly established itself as a trusted, dependable and credible prepaid provider to a range of clients across the globe.

About SmartPayCard:

SmartPayCard is a prepaid MasterCard, which can be bought in shops or through Moneta (with a mobile phone). SmartPayCart represents solution for everyone who doesn't have a credit card or doesn't want to use it on the Internet. It does not require connection with a bank account.

There are three versions of SmartPayCard: Simple, Premium Virtual and Premium Physical. Simple and Premium can be bought on POS or with Moneta and can be used only for online shopping. Physical Premium card can only be bought on POS, but can be used at over 33 million locations worldwide as well as 2 million ATMs. SmartPayCard Simple enables only single charge, while Premium cards are rechargeable.

You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @prepaidfs and prepaidfs.

For more information, go to http://www.prepaidfinancialservices.com or call +44(0)207-125-0321.