6 ways contactless is coming back

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There was once a huge push behind contactless payment cards in the U.S., but eventually issuers lost interest in the format. However, there are signs that contactless payments will make another push.

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There was once a huge push behind contactless payment cards in the U.S., but eventually issuers lost interest in the format. However, there are signs that contactless payments will make another push.
Costco store
A customer pushes a cart of purchased items outside a Costco Wholesale Corp. store in Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S., on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. The U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to release business inventories data on Sept. 13. Photographer: Ron Antonelli/Bloomberg
Ron Antonelli/Bloomberg

Citi and Costco's card

The biggest positive sign for contactless payments is Citigroup's decision to embed the technology in the Citi Anywhere Visa card it issues to Costco customers - especially since Costco doesn't accept contactless payments or even EMV. More than 70% of the use of the Costco-branded Citi Anywhere Visa cards occur outside the warehouse giant's stores.
Android Pay app
An attendee displays the Google Inc. Android Pay icon on a mobile device for a photograph during the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Google Inc. unveiled payment services, security upgrades and access to HBO movies and shows for its popular Android software, seeking to push back against growing competition from rivals such as Apple Inc. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

'Pay' wallets

Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay all support NFC, prompting more merchants to install hardware capable of accepting wireless payments. These terminals aren't mobile-only, and can be used to accept contactless payments from plastic cards as well.
Kohl's store
A shopper walks toward a Kohl's Corp. department store in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Kohl's Corp. is expected to release earnings figures on May 12. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

Loyalty goes contactless

Another factor is mobile loyalty. Companies like Kohl's are embedding loyalty into their mobile payment offerings, and this could be a driver of not only mobile wallets but also other contactless payment formats, including plastic cards.
Apple pay sticker
A sign for the launch of the Apple pay system, from Apple.Inc is seen displayed at the entrance to a McDonald's Corp. restaurant in London, U.K., on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. Apple Inc. is making the U.K. the first market outside the U.S. for its digital-wallet system as the company fights for a place in the electronic-payments industry. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Transit fare meets mobile wallets

Apple Pay's support of the FeliCa standard in Japan demonstrates that mobile wallet providers are willing to coexist with other contactless payment formats. This means mobile wallets could encourage the use of existing contactless fare cards, including open-loop cards.
credit card reader
close up of credit card terminal with chip credit card.
VisualCommunications/Getty Images

EMV's timing problem

Consumers perceive contact-EMV transactions to be unnecessarily slow, so they may prefer a tap-and-go experience. If shoppers haven't yet warmed up to mobile wallets, they can get the same speed from a contactless plastic card.
London black cabs
London black cabs seen outside Liverpool Street station in London's financial district, Wednesday August 18 2004. Maker Manganese Bronze, whose stock has dropped by almost half in three months, said in February it would shift some production to China after a slump in tourism and firings across London's financial district hurt the taxi industry. Photographer: Graham Barclay/Bloomberg News
GRAHAM BARCLAY/BLOOMBERG NEWS

Global momentum

Outside the U.S., contactless cards are more popular than ever. In the U.K. — where London's black cabs recently added contactless acceptance — NFC drove 21% of all card payments in August 2016, up from 7.9% a year earlier, according to the UK Cards Association.
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