Taiwan Nikomart Co (福客多), the nation's fifth-largest convenience store chain, will start accepting credit card payments at its 300 outlets nationwide tomorrow, the retailer announced yesterday.
Headed by the National Credit Card Center of the ROC (聯合信用卡處理中心), 17 local banks are participating in the first stage of the program, allowing their credit cardholders to enjoy speedy signature-free payments when the transaction value is under NT$500 (US$15).
no new card
"This brand-new service does not require consumers to apply for new cards or for credit cards that have an electronic wallet [e-wallet] feature," said Felix Ong (
"We believe it will encourage the public to engage in no-cash transactions," he said.
Monthly domestic credit card transaction value last year reached an average of NT$115 billion, accounting for 19.5 percent of overall consumer spending, statistics provided by the center showed.
Ong said the figures proved there was still a long way to go for the development of plastic currency transactions. The center aims to expand the low credit card transaction value program to about 2,400 terminals by including more convenience stores, taxis and fast-food restaurants by the end of the year with the participation of more than 20 member banks.
consumer loyalty
Other major convenience store chains have launched different payment programs to strengthen consumer loyalty.
The sector's leading player, 7-Eleven, which is run by President Chain Store Corp (
FamilyMart accepts MRT co-branded credit cards issued by Chinatrust Comemrcial Bank, Cathay United Bank (國泰世華 銀行), Taipei Fubon Bank (
Hi-Life (
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