ATM Cards To Be Used For Shopping

In a few weeks, bank customers can use their ATM cards to shop anywhere in Ghana and make payment on point-of-sale devices with their cards. This is the next big project the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement System (GHIPSS) is embarking on. This is after ensuring that traditional ATM cards apart from the VISA cards can be used on ATMs of other banks. According to GHIPSS, its new move is part of efforts to ensure people use less cash in transacting businesses in the country. Speaking to Citi Business News, the Chief Executive Officer of GHIPSS, Achie Hesse noted that the point-of-sale devices being used in the country accept only e-zwich cards and therefore with the onset of the new project, the point-of-sale devices will accept traditional ATM cards. He was expectant that �it will increase the usage of spending off your card as opposed to going to an ATM and then withdrawing cash before which is where we really want to get to.� Mr. Hesse also mentioned that his outfit is aiming at �driving Ghana into an electronic payment society and having an inter operable environment for ATMs will encourage individuals to put their money at the bank and then have access to it.� The project is however expected to be fully operational by the end of March this year.