Visa Releases Industry Directory

Visa Releases Industry Directory for Payment Service Providers in Asia Pacific

Expanded Visa Registry of Service Providers opens up global network of financial institutions and merchants to payment service providers

Auckland, 8 June 2009 – Providers of payment related services have a new tool in their marketing armory with the release of Visa’s extended Registry of Service Providers that enables organisations to market their services to potential clients around the world.

The Registry was previously limited to service providers that store, process or transmit cardholder data and have been validated by a qualified security assessor to be compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Visa has now expanded this directory to include Visa Approved Card Vendors and other service providers that provide payment related services but do not necessarily handle cardholder data as part of their service. These include ATM/POS terminal vendors and merchant solicitation agents.

The Registry which will serve as a source of reference for Visa clients, merchants and other stakeholders, includes company and contact details, types of services offered, Visa programs they participate in and indicate their compliance with relevant Visa and industry standards.

Visa will use the Registry to update Service Providers with relevant information on trends, standards and policies. The Registry will also function as a central point for Service Providers to submit documentation and receive notifications on annual compliance requirements.

Mike Smith, Visa’s regional head of risk management for Asia Pacific said: “Collaboration across the payments systems industry is critical to helping protect business from financial and reputation harm that can result from cardholder data compromises. The Visa Registry of Service Providers benefits the industry’s overall push to protect the electronic payment system by serving as a valuable resource for issuers, acquirers and merchants that are required to identify and work with PCI DSS compliant service providers. Such a directory also provides service providers with a marketing opportunity, enabling them to promote their payment card related services to potential clients worldwide.”

Once listed on the Registry, details of service providers can be accessed by Visa’s global network of 16,400 financial institution clients and millions of merchants. 2

Smith said: “The PCI DSS remains an effective security tool when implemented properly – and remains the best defence for businesses against the loss of sensitive data. We hope Visa’s new service will assist the industry in their path to achieving compliance.”

The registry is available at www.visa-asia.com/spregistry.
About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries.

ENDS

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