The move to MULTOS technology has been made in the Banamex personalisation bureau to allow greater flexibility in issuing both card brands, simplifying card issuance and personalisation and providing greater choice for future applications.

MULTOS is a flexible, secure, and cost effective smartcard operating system used for banking and payments. Key features are its high security architecture, ability to co-house multiple, independent applications securely and its ability to remotely load and delete applications throughout the lifecycle of the card.

Luis Cirerol, new technologies manager, Banamex, said, "We have implemented MULTOS in our personalisation centre to issue both Visa and MasterCard using the same smart card platform. The flexibility of the MULTOS system also means an open card supply chain, improved issuance times, cost reduction and opportunities to increase our value-add with additional applications. Already, we have launched a pilot project for contactless payments using a MULTOS dual interface card bringing increased value to our cardholders."

Richard Cusson, general manager, Smartcard Technologies, Keycorp, said "Dual issuers worldwide are taking note of the advantages of the MULTOS system in simplifying their EMV processes. We are pleased to be working with Banamex on this exciting project in Mexico. This is a further example of a large card issuer taking control over the supply chain by switching to an open smart card platform and no longer being locked into a single supplier at any stage in the supply chain."

Bob Beer, director of software, Datacard, said, "One of the biggest challenges and most frustrating issues that Datacard and its customers face in the EMV Issuing market is supporting a multiple native card issuing environment with its ever changing chip personalities. When Datacard was given the opportunity to work with a progressive customer like Banamex and consolidate its native card environment to a single platform we welcomed and embraced the opportunity to combine our standards based GlobalPlatform Profiles and Scripting technology with Keycorp's MULTOS step/one platform to provide an operationally elegant, fast, extensible and cost effective issuing solution. We would hope that others in the financial market will take note of what Banamex has achieved in operational efficiency and follow suit."

-ends-

About Keycorp

Keycorp Limited (ASX: KYC) is a global provider of secure electronic transactions with solutions from smartcards and point-of-service transaction systems to managed services.

Keycorp’s electronic payment terminals include smartcard-capable online and offline terminals capable of processing credit, charge, debit and stored value transactions. The terminals are designed for use at a retail point of sale, over the phone, in mobile environments or via the Internet, and can communicate with host systems via fixed or mobile communications. Keycorp is a founding member of the MULTOS consortium, which has responsibility for developing the MULTOS multi-application smartcard operating system. Keycorp develops and distributes smartcard operating systems such as MULTOS, as well as smartcard applications.

About Banamex

Grupo Financiero Banamex Financial Group is a member of Citigroup, Inc., and it is the leading financial group of Mexico, with Banco Nacional de México (Banamex), established in 1884. Through its affiliates, the Group maintains a preeminent position in the financial markets of the country, including deposits, consumer financing, management of mutual funds and retirement funds, banking, services, pensions, and stock brokerage. The Group has an extensive distribution network of more than 1,400 branches and 5,800 ATMs located in the entire country.

About Datacard

Datacard Group offers the world's best-selling secure ID and card personalization solutions. The company's portfolio includes systems for high-volume card issuance, card delivery, secure ID issuance and passport production, plus extensive service and supply offerings. Datacard Group serves customers in more than 120 countries (www.datacard.com).

For further information see: http://www.keycorp.net or contact:

Narelle Behn-Carey Corporate Marketing Manager Keycorp Limited Tel: + 61 2 9414 5314 Fax: + 61 2 9415 1363 Email: nbehncarey@keycorp.net Gail Bergman Gail Bergman PR Tel: (905) 886-1340 Email: gbergman@gailbergmanpr.com