IDEMIA & Arab National Bank to launch payment card in Saudi Arabia

By Delisha Fernandes

IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST), a provider of payment and connectivity solutions, has partnered with arab national bank (anb), one of the largest banks in the Middle East.

anb and IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) launched a payment card in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, distinguished by the unique feature of having all essential details printed in Braille. This includes the card number, expiry date and CVV.

“This partnership with arab national bank on an inclusive payment solution is a genuine source of pride for IDEMIA Secure Transactions. It underscores our ambition to pursue our development in the country, following our implementation with a card personalization center in Riyadh. We are pleased to be the first in the Kingdom to offer this innovative and inclusive feature, and we will remain dedicated to bringing ambitious innovations to the people of Saudi Arabia in the years to come.” said Hennie DUPLESSIS, Senior Vice-President for Payment Services in MEA at IDEMIA Secure Transactions.

With this innovative solution in the payment market, IST and anb reaffirm their dedication to improving accessibility for partially sighted and blind cardholders, by tackling barriers in payment processes, particularly in online transactions that often necessitate third-party interventions—an aspect that can be unsettling for the cardholder. The addition of Braille text to cards helps to remove some of the obstacles, empowering consumers to be autonomous and ensuring the security of all their payment actions.

“anb’s launch of the braille card represents a step forward in its commitment to make its services accessible to all segments of society. It also encompasses boosting social well-being and improving the overall customer experience by leveraging all resources and capabilities to stimulate meaningful change.” said Khaled Al Rashed, Head of Retail Banking Group at arab national bank. “anb shapes its community programs and initiatives around a set of core values: sustainability, empowerment, innovation, partnership, and meaningful impact.”