Latest news with #MarioMakary
Jordan News
5 days ago
- Business
- Jordan News
Bank al Etihad partners with ecolytiq and Visa to integrate carbon insights tool into mobile banking app - Jordan News
Bank al Etihad is excited to announce a new partnership with ecolytiq (a Berlin-based fintech providing sustainability-focused solutions to financial institutions) and Visa to introduce a carbon insights tool within its mobile banking app, reinforcing the bank's commitment to promoting sustainability through digital innovation. اضافة اعلان The tool will provide customers with their carbon footprints based on their debit and credit card transactions. Using localised data tailored to each country and covering a wide range of lifestyle categories, it offers personalised insights into customers' consumption patterns and environmental impact, enabling them to make responsible choices for a more sustainable future. "We believe that awareness is the first step towards change," said Nadia AlSaeed, CEO of Bank al Etihad. "By allowing customers to visualise the environmental impact of their activities, we hope to encourage them to make greener choices and support the global effort to mitigate climate change." Mario Makary, Vice President and Levant Cluster Manager at Visa, added: "We are excited to announce the launch of the Visa Eco bundle with Bank al Etihad in Jordan. This collaboration embodies our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing our customers with sustainable and convenient financial solutions. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our customers and the environment.' David Lais, Co-Founder and Managing Director at ecolytiq, said: 'As the leading digital bank in Jordan, Bank al Etihad recognises the need to adapt for the future, which includes the role they have in inspiring more sustainable behaviours. ecolytiq is proud to partner with Bank al Etihad to develop a carbon insights tool and help enable a more sustainable tomorrow for their community, while strengthening their leadership in the Levant region.' In addition to the carbon insights tool, Bank al Etihad customers will have access to a wealth of climate education content and sustainable living recommendations. This resource aims to nurture a climate-conscious lifestyle and facilitate a positive shift in consumer behaviour. This partnership underscores Bank al Etihad's commitment to environmental responsibility by leveraging its products, services, and brand to drive sustainable commerce. It also supports the transition to a low-carbon economy, aligning with the global goals of the Paris Agreement and local objectives of Jordan's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). About Bank al Etihad Bank al Etihad is a banking and financial institution dedicated to serving customers since 1987. With a strong presence in Jordan, the bank comprises several entities, including a financial brokerage company (Etihad Brokerage) and a financial leasing company (Etihad Leasing Company). Furthermore, Bank al Etihad holds a 10% ownership stake in the National Bank in Palestine and actively participates on its board of directors. In 2017, Bank al Etihad acquired a controlling stake in Safwa Islamic Bank. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, and @Visacemea About ecolytiq ecolytiq enables financial institutions and their customers to drive climate action. The ecolytiq product suite enriches a traditional banking experience with information to understand an individual's environmental impact, as well as personalised climate insights and actions to help measurably reduce one's carbon footprint. Having partnered with leading financial institutions such as Bank al Etihad and Visa, ecolytiq operates globally to leverage payment data for a better, more sustainable banking experience
Jordan News
6 days ago
- Business
- Jordan News
Eid Shopping Feature Scam-Smart and Eid Ready - Jordan News
Eid Shopping Feature Scam-Smart and Eid Ready By Mario Makary, Vice President and Levant Cluster Country Manager at Visa Eid Al Adha is a time of celebration, generosity, and coming together but, with scammers getting smarter and more creative, it also creates the perfect opportunity for online fraudsters to strike. Staying one step ahead means knowing their latest tricks and taking simple precautions to protect yourself while shopping online - so you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying the spirit of the holiday with peace of mind. اضافة اعلان Rising tide of online fraud Online fraud is climbing rapidly as Eid shopping moves into the digital space, with scammers eager to exploit the festive rush through fake websites, phishing emails, and 'too good to be true' offers. Globally, phishing attacks targeting retail brands have skyrocketed-surging by as much as 2,000% during peak shopping seasons-which highlights just how sophisticated and widespread these threats have become. In Jordan, 44% of consumers surveyed have fallen victim to a scam, with 14% experiencing fraud on multiple occasions. While 50% of surveyed consumers in Jordan have some degree of confidence in their own ability to spot fraud, 98% worry their family, or friends might fall for a scam. 89% believe that Gen X digital payment users are most likely to get scammed online. With a growing reliance on digital transactions, staying informed is the best way to protect yourself. Common Scams to Watch Out For: 1. Fraudsters Want Your Codes Many banking and financial apps require a one-time passcode for authentication. Scammers impersonate bank or government officials, claiming to need the code to verify a transaction or update security settings. Once they obtain it, they gain access to accounts, putting both money and personal data at risk. The biggest red flag is an unexpected request to reset a password or account information due to a data breach, which 78% of survey respondents identified as highly suspicious. 2. Fake Apps and Websites Be cautious of spoofed apps or websites designed to steal your personal information. Fraudsters even create fake holiday-themed apps which contain malware to infect your devices and collect payment data and login credentials. 3. Gift Card & Fake Charity Scams Scammers send fake emails or messages requesting donations for Eid charity causes, often using emotional appeals. Some fraudsters ask for payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency, which are harder to trace and recover. Donate only through verified charity websites and avoid requests for gift card payments. 4. Travel-Related Scams With millions traveling during the holidays, scammers target hotels, vacation and airline industries to steal data and money. Fake travel websites, which lure customers with low prices, upcharge for amenities and then cut off communication with would-be-travelers, leaving them stranded and out of money. Call center scams use malvertising to promote fake sites leading to victims chatting with 'customer service' to steal payment details and personal information. Another scam fraudsters are using this holiday season involves a fraudster impersonating a travel company to send a false cancellation email, asking for credit card information to 'rebook' a flight. Tips to Stay Secure: •Verify Websites: Verify the URLs of the websites that you visit – make sure you verify you're on the official website of where you are shopping and that the web address has an 'https' in front of the site. •Be Wary of Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true and be wary of being asked to pay through methods like cryptocurrency, wire transfers and gift cards. •Enable Purchase Alerts: Take a moment to sign up for purchase alerts on your accounts to get real-time notifications of all transactions and flag anything unrecognized to your bank immediately. •Protect OTPs: Never share one-time passcodes or other sensitive information, even with someone claiming to be a bank or government representative. •Beware of Suspicious Emails and Calls: Double-check directly with the company or institution before sharing any details. As digital payments become more common, consumers expect higher levels of security. Retailers, banks, and payment providers can build trust by implementing authentication measures such as texted confirmation codes and security badges. According to the 2025 Visa Stay Secure study, 78% of Jordan consumers feel safer when required to confirm their identity through a text code, while more than half value visible security icons when making purchases. By staying vigilant and following a few simple precautions, you can enjoy a secure and worry-free Eid shopping experience.
Zawya
08-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Visa tap to phone adoption soars: 200% year-over-year growth worldwide
Amman, Jordan – Tap. Pay. Done. This simple, secure, and increasingly mobile action has transformed the shopping experience and unlocked opportunities for small businesses worldwide. Today, Visa announced that Tap to Phone has experienced a 200% increase over the past year , supporting millions of sellers of all sizes. Tap to Phone expanded Visa's tap capabilities with a technology that turns a smartphone into a point-of-sale (POS) device, simply by downloading an app. With nearly 30% of Tap sellers being new small businesses , this technology is helping to democratize access to commerce tools and empower microsellers and SMBs around the world to start accepting contactless payments by using their NFC-enabled smartphones. 'Tap to Phone's is a game changer for small and medium-sized businesses, offering them a secure, cost-effective way to access the digital economy,' said Mario Makary, Vice President and Cluster Manager for Levant at Visa. 'We're constantly innovating to expand our tap capabilities and create the best payments experiences for people and businesses. The significant growth in adoption is a testament to the technology's impact and potential.' Empowering businesses of all sizes From market stalls to major retailers, Tap to Phone empowers businesses of all sizes to accept payments effortlessly, creating a seamless and fast checkout experience for customers. Business owners globally report increased confidence, streamlined operations, and accelerated growth with Visa's Tap to Phone. The growing adoption of Tap to Phone is expected to continue as more businesses recognize its advantages. In Ukraine, where NovaPay has implemented Tap to Phone for its NovaPost courier services, 80% of all digital transactions are now processed through this solution . Similarly, in South Africa, Visa's partner iKhokha is leveraging Tap to Phone to provide businesses with mobile payment acceptance. As a result, iKhokha merchants have seen a 50% growth in the number of Tap to Phone transactions within six months since the launch, with continuous growth observed daily. The Future of Tap This upward trend for Tap to Phone is expected to continue through the next year as more consumers and businesses may begin to recognize the benefits of tap technology and more use cases may hit the market. For example, Tap to Add Card enables users to add eligible credit or debit cards to their digital wallet by simply tapping a card to their phone. Since Tap to Add Card rolled out globally with Apple Pay in September 2024, it has picked up traction and enabled millions of tokens for more than 100 issuers, helping achieve higher authorization rates and fraud reduction rates. Visa cardholders can add their Visa cards to Apple Wallet faster than ever, with no need to manually input card details. Visa has also developed Tap to Confirm, which allows consumers to quickly and securely authenticate a high value transfer. Tap to Confirm will be soon available in CEMEA. About Visa Inc. Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, and @Visacemea Media Contact: Asda'a BCW, Amman, Jordan Bailasan Badwan | Al Sharif Mohamed Al Ghaleb | Visa Eman ElGamal
Al Bawaba
08-04-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Visa Tap to Phone Adoption Soars: 200% Year-over-Year Growth Worldwide
Tap. Pay. Done. This simple, secure, and increasingly mobile action has transformed the shopping experience and unlocked opportunities for small businesses worldwide. Today, Visa announced that Tap to Phone has experienced a 200% increase over the past year, supporting millions of sellers of all sizes. Tap to Phone expanded Visa's tap capabilities with a technology that turns a smartphone into a point-of-sale (POS) device, simply by downloading an app. With nearly 30% of Tap sellers being new small businesses, this technology is helping to democratize access to commerce tools and empower microsellers and SMBs around the world to start accepting contactless payments by using their NFC-enabled smartphones. 'Tap to Phone's is a game changer for small and medium-sized businesses, offering them a secure, cost-effective way to access the digital economy,' said Mario Makary, Vice President and Cluster Manager for Levant at Visa. 'We're constantly innovating to expand our tap capabilities and create the best payments experiences for people and businesses. The significant growth in adoption is a testament to the technology's impact and potential.'Empowering businesses of all sizes From market stalls to major retailers, Tap to Phone empowers businesses of all sizes to accept payments effortlessly, creating a seamless and fast checkout experience for customers. Business owners globally report increased confidence, streamlined operations, and accelerated growth with Visa's Tap to Phone. The growing adoption of Tap to Phone is expected to continue as more businesses recognize its advantages. In Ukraine, where NovaPay has implemented Tap to Phone for its NovaPost courier services, 80% of all digital transactions are now processed through this solution. Similarly, in South Africa, Visa's partner iKhokha is leveraging Tap to Phone to provide businesses with mobile payment acceptance. As a result, iKhokha merchants have seen a 50% growth in the number of Tap to Phone transactions within six months since the launch, with continuous growth observed daily. The Future of TapThis upward trend for Tap to Phone is expected to continue through the next year as more consumers and businesses may begin to recognize the benefits of tap technology and more use cases may hit the example, Tap to Add Card enables users to add eligible credit or debit cards to their digital wallet by simply tapping a card to their phone. Since Tap to Add Card rolled out globally with Apple Pay in September 2024, it has picked up traction and enabled millions of tokens for more than 100 issuers, helping achieve higher authorization rates and fraud reduction rates. Visa cardholders can add their Visa cards to Apple Wallet faster than ever, with no need to manually input card details. Visa has also developed Tap to Confirm, which allows consumers to quickly and securely authenticate a high value transfer. Tap to Confirm will be soon available in CEMEA. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Al Bawaba
13-03-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Visa Cardholders Can Now Add Their Cards to Google Wallet in Jordan
Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, has announced that cardholders in Jordan can add their Visa cards to Google Wallet. Starting today, Visa cardholders of Arab Bank, InvestBank and Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation (Al Rajhi Bank Jordan) can add their Visa cards to their Google Wallet on Android and Wear OS devices, allowing payments to be made wherever contactless options are accepted. This integration supports the strong demand for digital payment options in Jordan, offering locals and tourists alike with the convenience of using their mobile phones for contactless payments. Security is the cornerstone of Google Pay as it is based on tokenization, a security-enhancing technology that replaces sensitive cardholder credentials, such as a 16-digit primary account number (PAN), with a token number. Tokenization helps reduce fraud & improve card authorization rates. Mario Makary, Vice President and Country Manager, for Visa in Levant, commented: 'We are excited to show our continued commitment to enhancing Jordan's digital payment ecosystem through this partnership with Google. Digital wallets are on the rise with mobile phone penetration in Jordan reaching 82.3% in early 2025. With rapid growth within the contactless payment market driven by the shift towards cashless transactions, this is another great option for Jordanians as well as visitors to enjoy the same seamless and secure payment experience worldwide.''Google Pay provides a fast, easy and safe way for users to pay with their Android phone or Wear OS device,' said Ben Volk, Vice President and General Manager, Google Pay and Google Wallet. 'Users can simply add their debit and credit cards to the Google Wallet app and feel confident that their financial information is safe and secure when they're making a purchase.' © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
