PULSE, the Discover Financial Services business, has signed a long-term ATM acquiring agreement with TRIONIS, a European interbank processing network. TRIONIS is jointly owned by retail banks from nine European countries, the European Savings Banks group and First Data.
Under terms of the agreement, when fully implemented, more than 74,000 TRIONIS ATMs across Europe will process ATM transactions for Diners Club International and Discover cards.
Reportedly, the service went live in several countries on July 1, with acceptance of Diners Club cards at the ATMs of banks in Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg and Belgium. Discover cards are expected to be accepted at TRIONIS European ATMs beginning in October 2009.
Dave Schneider, president of PULSE, said: “Since acquiring Diners Club, one of Discover’s priorities has been to strengthen global acceptance. Our agreement with TRIONIS is a significant multi-country acquirer agreement to further European acceptance of Diners Club and Discover cards and an important step in helping reach that goal.”
Ernst Verbeek, managing director, TRIONIS, said: “TRIONIS is pleased to be able to facilitate broader card acceptance at European cash access machines. Acceptance of Diners Club and Discover cards will allow us to serve more cardmembers, while giving ATM operators access to additional ATM transactions.”
