Atos Origin takes responsibility for processing the first German combined debit and credit card program with bonus miles

Frankfurt/Main, 24 July 2006 - Atos Worldline, an Atos Origin company, has been selected to process a new payment card for Landesbank Berlin AG and its co-branding partner Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG. This first combined debit and credit card on the German market combines MasterCard and ec-/Maestro-Card and allows cardholders to earn Air Berlin top bonus air miles through ec-/Maestro extended acceptance.

Atos Worldline and Landesbank Berlin have been partners on various projects over the last 16 years. Currently, Atos Worldline is responsible for the payment processing of the Air Berlin MasterCard top bonus card. This new programme extends the business relationship for a further five years.

The technical processing provided by Atos Worldline is based on its proprietary, highly flexible card management system which was specifically extended from a conversion module to an authorisation module (SEMPRIS®authorize).

“Through this new service our clients can create their own card programs in a more attractive and profitable way, and thereby offer more advantages than their competitors“, says Peter Vesco, Business Unit Manager of Banking & Finance International at Atos Worldline. “With the processing of combined debit and credit card program, this is the first time it is possible to implement card programs with widespread acceptance.“

“Landesbank Berlin Air Berlin cardholders can earn top bonus miles from daily shopping in merchant outlets that do not accept credit cards but do accept ec-cards, while benefiting from the Air Berlin MasterCard monthly deduction facility from their private bank account. Atos Worldline has been our processing partner for sixteen years now. Their ability to implement this innovative program in a relatively short period reinforces our choice to further extend this successful partnership over the next five years", says Dr. Tilo Schürer, Direct Marketing Manager at Landesbank Berlin.

More Flexibility through Dual Cards with Credit and ec-card
With Atos Worldline’s new highly flexible card management system, credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard can be handled and processed together with an ec-card from the same card account. A Maestro-Only solution is also possible. The new combined card is dealt with in the same way as an ordinary credit card. In this way typical credit card payment functions such as “Charge Credit“ and “Revolving Credit“ can also be used for debit cards. At the same time typical debit card uses, such as cash payment and transfers from/to accounts, remain unchanged. Because of the widespread acceptance of the ec-/Maestro-card and access to worldwide e-transactions using credit cards becoming commonplace, card-issuing institutions can increase card use and therefore competitiveness and profitability.

System extension through the conversion module in SEMPRIS®authorize
Developing new variant products required to adapt the behaviour patterns for how debit and credit cards are used in Atos Worldline card management system (SEMPRIS®core). The greatest challenge lay in the development of a conversion function in the authorisation module (SEMPRIS®authorize), ie. ‘converting’ Maestro-card requests to MasterCard requests.


About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company’s annual revenues are more than EUR 5,5 billion and it employs over 47,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Euronext Market Solutions, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.


Atos Worldline, an Atos Origin company - Atos Worldline is a major European player in the processing of large-volume electronic exchanges, specialising in electronic payment services, CRM and e-services (internet, voice and mobile services). With the focus on technological innovation, Atos Worldline implements its solutions in processing or integration mode. Atos Worldline has 2,600 employees in Europe and has an annual turnover of €400 million.


About Landesbank Berlin
Landesbank Berlin AG (LBB) is a customer-oriented, innovative institution for private and business clientele. Through the brand names Berliner Sparkasse and Berliner Bank (BB) it provides regional customers with an extensive branch network and is also the market leader in the German credit card sector. Modern distribution channels, such as online and credit card banking, call center and self-service media, complete its extensive range of products. Around 5,300 employees are aware that their daily goal is to make LBB a profitable institution.


About Air Berlin
Air Berlin is the second largest airline company in Germany and the third largest low-fare carrier in Europe. The airline was set up in 1978 and has grown steadily since then. Through the Euro Shuttle linking European cities, the company has attained a new scale of business. The attractive price performance ratio is interesting for business and private passengers alike. Due to its high service standards in product tests in January 2005 the company came out top among 15 international airlines. Air Berlin employs over 2,650 employees. The current fleet of 54 aircraft with an average age of four years makes it one of the most modern in Europe. The airline achieved a turnover of €1.22 billion in 2005, carrying 13.5 million passengers. Since early 2004 Air Berlin has held a stake of 24 percent in NIKI, the Austrian low-fare airline owned by Niki Lauda.

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Anja Müller

Atos Origin Press Contact

Atos Origin

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