Currently structured negotiations are ongoing with Bank One Corporation and
FleetBoston financial regarding the accessibility of their banking
services to the blind, including credit card services.  Bank One is the
second largest credit card issuer.  Fleetboston and Bank One are two of
the three companies mentioned in the article.

kelly



   Tuesday September 12, 4:15 pm Eastern Time

Visa launches smart card system for bank issuers

   NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Top credit card network Visa U.S.A. on
   Tuesday launched a technology system for credit cards embedded with
   computer chips, in a major push to bring the cards to a U.S. market
   that so far has been unreceptive.

   The platform would provide banks that belong to the Visa network with
   applications to issue so-called ``smart'' Visa cards, which contain
   computer chips that store data.

   But the cards have had a checkered history to date in the United
   States.

   They are very popular in Europe but an attempt to bring them in New
   York City in 1998 failed, partly because of intense competition from
   credit cards and other payment options available to Americans.

   Smart cards also need to be put through a special reader to work,
   which has been another obstacle to their growth.

   But the growth of online shopping has put the spotlight on smart cards
   again, as a way to protect cardholder account information from being
   stolen while browsing the Web.

   ``Over the past five years, the evolution of the Internet and the
   impact of electronic commerce has generated an increased demand in the
   United States for payment products offering enhanced technology and
   applications,'' said Al Banisch, senior vice president of consumer
   credit cards, Visa

   U.S.a.

   In the latest effort, Bank One Corp.'s (NYSE:ONE - news) First USA
   credit card arm, Boston-based bank FleetBoston Financial Corp.
   (NYSE:FBF - news) and credit card company Providian Financial Corp.
   (NYSE:PVN - news) will bring out Visa smart cards this autumn.

   Providian's card is clear plastic and contains a computer chip that it
   said eventually could serve as a telephone calling card or an
   electronic ticket, not just as a cash card. It also has a magnetic
   stripe so it can be used in stores.

   ``It will be like having a computer in your wallet,'' David Alvarez,
   head of integrated card business for Providian, said. ``Over time, we
   hope to have this card work with cell phones, Internet TVs, hand-held
   organisers and personal computers...''

   Visa, which is owned by major banks, said it was in talks with other
   bank members about using the new technology.

   Used with special readers connected to a computer, cardholders
   ultimately would be able to download services to enhance their card
   without getting a new card, Visa said.

   To market the card, Visa said it will advertise on television and the
   Web, and also run promotions.


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