NEW YORK - Yesterday, American Express announced its network roadmap to advance EMV chip-based contact, contactless and mobile payments for all merchants, processors and issuers of American Express-branded cards in the United States.
American Express will work alongside other industry participants to drive interoperability across the U.S. and other countries, and support chip-based technology for chip and PIN, chip and signature, contactless and mobile transactions. By April 2013, processors must be able to support American Express EMV chip-based contact, contactless and mobile transactions.
Beginning October 2013, merchants will be eligible to receive relief from PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) reporting requirements if the merchants' point-of-sale (POS) acceptance locations, where 75% of their transactions occur, are enabled to process American Express EMV chip-based contact and contactless transactions.
Effective October 2015, American Express will institute a Fraud Liability Shift (FLS) policy that will transfer liability for certain types of fraudulent transactions away from the party that has the most secure form of EMV technology. U.S. fuel merchants will have an additional two years, until October 2017, before the FLS takes effect for transactions generated from automated fuel dispensers.
"The payments industry is continuing to evolve rapidly, and American Express recognizes the growing demand for chip-based contact and contactless payments in the U.S.," said Suzan Kereere, senior vice president and general manager for American Express Global Network Business, in a press release. "We also fully recognize the complexities involved in migrating to EMV chip-based technology, and our first priority is to provide choice and flexibility for merchants and our card-issuing partners so they can adopt the EMV solution that best meets their needs."
American Express plans to begin issuing EMV-compliant cards in the U.S. in the latter half of 2012. "As a global payments network, we understand the benefits associated with EMV-based technology, and we are committed to continue enhancing security at the point-of-sale for both merchants and American Express Cardmembers," said Kereere.
Read more about the future of the mobile payments landscape and what to expect in the May issue of NACS Magazine.