The service gives Alinma cardholders the ability to enable and disable Internet purchasing on their cards through the bank’s Alinma Internet (www.alinma.com) or Alinma Phone (8001208000) services. Under the new system, Alinma customers can carry out a transaction through the Internet and disable the card on completion of the operation.
Speaking at the launch, Behnam Maqsoud, head of the Retail Assets division at Alinma Bank said : “Alinma is committed to bringing safe, state-of-the-art banking to our partners.” Although the introduction of EMV debit and credit cards has ensured much safer point-of-sale transactions, he said the Internet remains more vulnerable to fraud. However, with this unique service, partners take complete control of the safety of the Internet transactions performed using their cards.”
Maqsoud also noted that Alinma’s service saves the bank the effort of issuing and managing “low limit” cards for Internet transactions, which is the current practice of many banks in Saudi Arabia.
Last year, Alinma Bank became the first Bank in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to issue personalized Visa EMV cards instantly. With this achievement, Alinma Bank pioneered a standard that many banks have attempted to emulate. Alinma was also the first bank in Saudi Arabia to be awarded the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard 1.2.1 certification, the highest level of cardholder data security certification, Maqsoud said, adding that with the addition of its Internet transaction security feature for its EMV cards, Alinma has taken card security to the next level of excellence.
Alinma Bank is a Saudi joint stock company that was established with SR15 billion in capital. It provides financing services that are commensurate with the needs of individuals and corporate entities across 26 Kingdomwide branches. Branches currently exist in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah, Taif, Khamis Mushait, Hofuf and Jubail. It also provides its partners with a full range of alternative, 24-hour, self-service banking options that include Alinma Internet (www.alinma.com), Alinma Phone (8001208000) and Alinma Mobile, plus an extensive network of more than 161 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
