The launch means that during 2015 ICA Bank’s over 500,000 card customers will be sent a new bank card adapted for this technology. Using the new card, customers can pay in ICA stores by touching their card against the card reader.

Marie Halling, CEO of ICA Bank, comments: “Contactless card payments simplify customer payments and will reduce cash handling in the store. Future payments will head in this direction and we are pleased that together with MasterCard we are first in the Swedish market. ICA stores already have readers ready for NFC and this agreement means we will be the first to use this technology.”

ICA is making determined efforts to provide effective payment solutions that make every day a little easier for the customer. ICA started testing mobile payments a few weeks ago and with the launch of contactless card payments, ICA is taking a further step in this direction.

Bart Willaert, General Manager of MasterCard in the Nordic-Baltic region, comments: “Contactless payments are the way forward and are also ideal for daily shopping where consumers wish to pay fast and easily. We are very pleased to be taking this step together with ICA Bank and look forward to introducing this innovative payment technology in the Swedish market.”

MasterCard’s solution is called MasterCard® Contactless and is based on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.

For further information, please contact
ICA Gruppen’s press service, telephone: +46 10 422 52 52

ICA Gruppen AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 08.30 CET on Tuesday, 9 December 2014.