Australia's leading convenience retailer will tomorrow introduce new MasterCard PayPass technology to 387 of its metropolitan Star Mart stores across the country.

Customers with participating credit cards* will be able to pay for items without signing or keying their PIN.

The contactless payment technology, available through a partnership with MasterCard and the Commonwealth Bank, will give Caltex customers a faster and easier way to pay for convenience items and fuel products at participating Caltex sites.

The availability of the new payment method across the Caltex network is to more than double by the end of 2011 when 780 sites are scheduled to be using the system.

Caltex National Retail Manager Leo Pucar said that a faster payment system at the point of sale was one of a number of steps the convenience retailer was taking to give customers access to the latest technology and improve their shopping experience.

"Our customers visit our stores to re-fuel their vehicles and purchase convenience products and services," Mr Pucar.

"Our aim is to help customers get on their way to where they are going as quickly as possible and that means giving customers access to modern and efficient forms of payment technology such as MasterCard PayPass."

Commonwealth Bank's Executive General Manager for Business Products and Development, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, said the new arrangement with Caltex reinforced the bank's leading position in providing contactless solutions for a growing number of merchants.

"We have installed approximately 25,000 contactless readers with our merchants since October 2009 and the move from Caltex is a testament to the value and opportunity for contactless technology in the merchant space," Ms Bayer Rosmarin said.

"With over five million MasterCard Credit and Debit PayPass cards on issue, the Commonwealth Bank is the largest issuer in the Australian market.

"The popularity of PayPass continues to grow and we are witnessing increases of 25% in the number of transactions processed every month."

MasterCard PayPass technology allows customers with microchip-enabled cards to use a specially-fitted EFT terminal without the card physically touching the machine.

Mr Pucar said each payment would no longer require the customer to insert the card, select an account or either sign or key in a PIN.

* Card issuer transaction limits apply (see factsheet).

MasterCard PayPass - factsheet

• Contactless payments (or "Near Field Communications") are known by many names including MasterCard PayPass and VISA PayWave.
• This technology allows cardholders to use a specially-fitted EFT terminal without the card physically touching the machine.
• Transactions performed with this technology are designed to be quick, with no need to insert the card, select an account, enter a PIN or sign.
• Applies to MasterCard and VISA credit account transactions of under $100.
• Suitable cards are issued by financial institutions with a microchip that allows the card to be read by the specially-fitted EFT terminals.
• Card issuers have in place different dollar limits for transactions made using this payment technology. Some cards have a limit on the number of transactions customers can make. Customers should check with their financial institution to find out how these conditions might affect their purchases.
• With the card remaining in the customer's hands at all times, Contactless transactions have been shown to be the safest form of transaction with the lowest rates of fraud experienced.
• For more information, visit the Commonwealth Bank website at: http://www.commbank.com.au/personal/credit-cards/making-payments/paypass/default.aspx

Caltex media contact:
Sam Collyer
02 9250 5094
sam.collyer@caltex.com.au