BUCHAREST, June 18, 2009 – Raiffeisen Bank and RêvEurope are breaking new ground in Romania’s emerging prepaid card market with the launch of the Raiffeisen Bank Visa Prepaid Card, the only prepaid card to allow Romanians to send money domestically from their mobile phones and the first prepaid debit card on the Romanian market issued by a banking institution. Consumers can find the card at select Raiffeisen Bank branches in Bucharest and, in the near future, directly from merchants.

Designed for young and cash-based Romanians who are online, the Raiffeisen Bank Visa Prepaid Card gives cardholders the freedom and security of spending with electronic currency. Customers who buy and load cash on the card can shop online, make purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide and use the integrated YAP mobile service to send money domestically to friends and family or check balances from their mobile phones with a simple text message. They can also manage their accounts online at www.cardpreplatit.ro.

“Raiffeisen International Group and RêvEurope are collaborating to bring advanced payment solutions to the markets where we operate, starting with Romania. We’re proud to introduce another innovation in the banking market with the Raiffeisen Bank Visa Prepaid Card, a pioneering product that will benefit many consumers seeking a flexible, safe and accessible cash alternative,” said Razvan Munteanu, Raiffeisen Bank’s Retail Division Vice-President.

Enrollment and Availability
Customers with proper identification can purchase a Raiffeisen Bank Prepaid Visa Card “off the rack” for 18 RON from the following Raiffeisen Bank branch locations where the card is available today:
1.   Unirea Branch – 1, Unirii Square, district 3;
2.   Sebastian Branch - 221-225, Calea 13 Septembrie Street, district 5;
3.   Bucuresti Mall Branc - 55-59, Vitan Street, district 3;
4.   Piata Romana Branch – 9, Romana Square, district 1;
5.   Liberty Center Branch – 151-171, Progresului Street, district 5;
6.   Pipera Branch - 9 – 9A, Dimitrie Pompei, district 2.

For more information on the Raiffeisen Bank Visa Prepaid Card, please visit www.cardpreplatit.ro.   

Retailers Coming Soon
Raiffeisen Bank will soon extend the card’s availability beyond its branch locations to merchants, giving retailers the opportunity to participate in Romania’s fast-growing financial services market.

“By providing convenient and familiar places where consumers can access and top up funds, retail partners can enjoy an easily deployable channel for increasing store traffic and boosting consumer loyalty and purchasing power,” said John Mitchell, chief executive officer of RêvEurope.

Munteanu added, “RêvEurope has the industry’s only integrated platform for card and mobile payments, and because it’s designed for widespread retail availability, we can quickly and easily add new merchants, geographies and valuable features like bill pay, remittance and mobile top-ups.”