Why bank cards are changing in France
The new payment systems aim to make it easier to shop online and to fight fraud
The new cards will display very little information, and apply to the CB, Visa and Mastercard payment networks
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Bank cards in France are set to change with the card number, expiry date and security code no longer set to be visible, in new measures designed to fight fraud and scams.
Some more recently issued cards already do not have numbers embossed on the front, they are on the back.
Over the next six years all numbers are set to disappear leaving only the cardholder’s name visible. The change is set to apply to the CB, Visa and Mastercard payment networks, reports FranceInfo.
The change is aimed at improving security and making online shopping easier.
How will payments work with this new style of card?
With the new style of card, you will not have to enter any numbers to confirm purchases. Instead you will enter the email address or telephone number linked to your card.
You will then receive a notification from your bank's phone app. You will then have to validate your transaction using your fingerprints or facial recognition.
Many online shopping portals and bank cards already use a similar system, sending alerts to a user’s smartphone bank app to validate purchases. Fingerprints and facial recognition are increasingly being used to confirm transactions, especially for digital payment types such as PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The new system promises a range of security advantages, too. Without showing numbers or security codes there is less risk of cards being hacked, intercepted or photocopied.
Gradual rollout to 2030
The new cards are not set to be rolled out until 2030 to give all retailers and public-facing companies a chance to update their systems to accommodate the new payment types.
For example, currently to pay by phone (for example, to book a hotel room), you might read your card details over the phone. With the new cards, you would need to give only your linked email address or phone number to book, and complete the transaction via your smartphone app.
However this would require the hotel (or relevant retailer) being set up with the new system, hence why the introduction of the new technology is set to be gradual, in a bid to ensure all types of companies have time to adapt.
