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‘Debit cards welcome’ increasingly means contactless too

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People in the Netherlands are increasingly making contactless payments with their debit cards or mobile phones. Since contactless payments were introduced at the beginning of this year, three million transactions have taken place. Consumers and businesses particularly value their speed and convenience.

By early October, contactless payments could be made at almost 47,000 payment terminals. This number is expected to rise further in the coming months. Businesses where speed at the checkout is important are replacing their current terminals with ones that also support contactless payments. The phase-out of Chipknip on 1 January 2015 is another reason for many businesses in the catering and vending sectors to introduce contactless payments.

Almost seven million debit cards and mobile phones that consumers can use for contactless payments are now in circulation. Banks and other market participants expect this number to grow rapidly. Amounts up to and including €25 can be paid contactlessly without entering a PIN. For amounts above €25, a PIN is required.

‘Debit cards welcome’

The ‘Debit cards welcome’ campaign, launched last year, highlights businesses’ strong preference for debit card payments, even for small amounts. Although many people think they are helping small businesses by paying cash, the opposite is true. A television commercial running from 6 to 19 October now also shows that contactless payments are becoming increasingly common.

The debit card campaign is an initiative of the Dutch Payments Association, the Foundation for Promoting Efficient Payments, banks, trade associations, Maestro and VPAY. The initiators hope that consumers will make more debit card and contactless payments.

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