Visa and National Bank of Greece test payment-enabled jewelry with Folli Follie and Links of London

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) and National Bank of Greece (NBG)  announced a new project to develop payment-enabled jewelry in partnership with Folli Follie and Links of London. Prototypes of the jewelry line will be on display at Visa’s booth (Hall 4, Booth 4B20) and Visa Everywhere Garden during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (26 February – 1 March). 

 

Visa and NBG will collaborate with Folli Follie and Links of London to create payment-enabled rings and bracelets – utilising contactless payment technology - allowing consumers to complete seamless and secure payments with a simple tap at any contactless-enabled terminal. The jewelry line will initially be available to consumers in Greece when it launches later this year. Marketing technology agency QIVOS has been facilitating the project in partnership with Visa, NBG, Folli Follie and Links of London – undertaking the overall management and implementation of the project.

 

Mike Lemberger, Head of Product & Solutions, Visa in Europe said: 

”As the global payment landscape continues to evolve from plastic to digital, Visa continues to innovate and work with partners like the National Bank of Greece and jewellery brands Folli Follie and Links of London to develop a solution that will bring consumers a simple and secure purchasing experience. This exciting new project is an excellent example of how Visa’s technology can support the work of our financial institution partners and retailers as they seek to deliver the latest trends in payments to consumers.”

George Koutsolioutsos, CEO FF Group, said:

“In FF Group, being always ahead of our time, we are thrilled to enter the new era of high tech fashion, innovating once again with a pioneering project, that is going to change the way we shop. Folli Follie and Links of London are about to insert the very first contactless payment jewelry into the world of fashion and we look forward to replacing old plastic cards with new smart and brilliant designs.”

Nelly Tzakou-Lambropoulou, General Manager Retail Banking, National Bank of Greece, said:

”At National Bank of Greece, we are committed to investing in cutting-edge transaction technologies, thereby enhancing our profile in the rapidly emerging arena of digital payments. Having brought various innovative products to the Greek banking market, such as i-bank pay and i-bank payband, we are currently involved in the development of the first-ever branded series of contactless payment jewelry. Building on our strong know-how and customer-oriented philosophy, we have created a unique user experience: once obtaining the wearable transaction instrument, users activate it instantly via NBG’s POS terminals’ network and can make payments quickly and safely, simply by moving their hand over the POS reader.”