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Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to understand more about EmbassyCard, what we offer, and what we do
FAQs
What is EmbassyCard?
It is a contactless Card that stores Digital Cash designed for the 21st Century for banked and unbanked Nigerians and tourists visiting the country.
We are more than a Card. EmbassyCard has built a payment system infrastructure in the form of Customer and Merchant Apps, secure Smart Cards and a Digital Cash hosting system which connects to the banking world. It allows for fast and secure online or offline payment without the need for expensive PoS merchant terminals. Exchange your digital cash for physical cash whenever you need it through our network of registered EmbassyCard Merchants.
Who can be a customer?
Anyone over the age of 16+ can open an EmbassyCard. You do not need to have a smart phone, but you will need to have a mobile phone. A registered customer can register supplementary cards for dependants.
Who can be a merchant?
Anyone over the age of 16+, or a business that qualifies to open a bank account, or already has one. You will require an NFC enabled Smartphone. At present, only merchants in Nigeria are eligible.
How does it work?
You can register as a customer or a merchant by downloading the App or via the EmbassyCard website. Once your registration is successful your EmbassyCard will be delivered to you ready for activation. You will need to load the Card with digital cash as stored value via transfer from your bank account, or via an EmbassyCard merchant, or directly via the EmbassyCard website using your Debit/Credit Card.
Once your card has been activated and loaded with digital cash, you are ready to spend online or offline at any registered EmbassyCard Merchants. Use your EmbassyCard to pay for goods and services locally and remotely through the internet. You can lock and unlock your card to keep your Digital Cash safe, and you can also transfer funds to friends and family wherever they are.
EmbassyCard merchants can take payment with their Smartphone immediately their account is activated and earn commission each time load funds or perform a cashback for customers. No need to buy an expensive PoS terminal when EmbassyCard App turns your Smartphone into a PoS device.
How is money loaded to EmbassyCard?
Money can be loaded onto your own Card at any EmbassyCard merchant, or by transferring funds directly from your bank account, or via card-to-card money transfer from a card member who is local or abroad or by direct bulk loading by institutions or companies such as: Salaries, Government Benefits, Payment Disbursements, Social Security, Pensions, NGO’s, etc.
Do you know, a customer can use a family member or friend’s phone to load funds onto their own EmbassyCard directly from their own Bank Account.
You can also load your friends’ or a family member’s card directly from your own Bank account as a remote recipient of funds! They do not need to visit an ATM to withdraw cash.
Where is the money stored?
Money is stored as Digital Cash on the Smart Contactless EmbassyCard and carried by the customer. The physical money is deposited in an Escrow Account safely with our partner bank ready for deposit into your bank account if you ever need to collect cash.
Though we want you to stay cashless and stay safe with Digital Cash, we recognise that you may want to withdraw funds or make merchant settlements from EmbassyCard into your Bank Account.
How is it different?
- Money is kept with the user on their EmbassyCard as prepaid stored value, and not in the Cloud, allowing for fast and secure transactions offline and online.
- EmbassyCard has low transaction fees. EmbassyCard cutting edge Electronic Payment System is developed to ensure that we do not share customer data or their Identity with Merchants to authorise payments or authenticate the user online therefore reducing the cost associated with payment to all parties; unlike Debit and Credit Cards such as MasterCard, Visa, America Express and others.
- Anyone can become a merchant instantly. The merchant or the merchant terminal do not need to be EMV certified.
- Merchants do not need to purchase expensive PoS Terminal. They can simply use their NFC enabled Smartphone on downloading the EmbassyCard App as a registered Customer/Merchant.
- Transactions are fast and our payment offline is unique to EmbassyCard, and safe even when there is no GSM Network, Mobile Data or No WIFI connection available. Merchants do not have to miss that sale due to poor network connection.
- Customers can Lock/Unlock their EmbassyCard to keep their Digital Cash safe and secure and ready to spend.
- No need to queue at the ATM once you have an EmbassyCard. Use our "Merchant Near You" feature on the App to find merchants nearby where you can go and withdraw cash or load cash onto your card.
- Banks can reduce costs on PoS terminals for their Banking Agencies when the Agent can simply download the App and turn their Smartphone into a PoS terminal to use with EmbassyCard.
- With EmbassyCard, you can send money to family and friends using our unique Card-2-Card Money Transfer feature in the App.
- EmbassyCard App can be operated by anyone with or without a bank account.
- Uniquely, EmbassyCard prepaid card holders will never be asked to enter their PIN on the Merchant Terminal, no customer ID is input onto Merchant Terminal unlike regular debit and credit cards transactions.
How do merchants accept Digital Cash and Earn Commission?
Merchants download the free EmbassyCard App from Google Appstore, install, and run the App on their NFC enabled Android Smartphone. The App allows the Smartphone to accept payment for goods and services by tapping the EmbassyCard on the back of the phone.
The App will allow the Merchant to Load Digital Cash for Customers, perform Cash Back for Customers and receive commission for providing the service.
How does a merchant deposit their Sales money from the Terminal?
Periodically, when network is available, Merchant funds collected from Sales on their Terminal, the "Terminal Balance", are sent from the Terminal and deposited to the EmbassyCard Payment server. This is called "Redeem Funds" in the App.
How does the merchant transfer their Sales money into their Bank Account?
Periodically, or at anytime, anywhere, as per the commercial agreement, accumulated merchant Redeem Funds can be deposited directly to the merchant’s bank account by electronic transfer. This is called “Merchant Settlement” in the App.
How is EmbassyCard different to a pre-paid debit card?
EmbassyCard issues Digital Cash which is stored securely on the Card in exchange for physical cash. It is a prepaid card with a difference; it works anywhere, offline, and anonymously unlike MasterCard or Visa or similar Debit Cards. Not all customers need to have a Bank account. It uses your local currency, no interchange fees and requires no expensive traditional PoS Terminal. EmbassyCard holders do not need to queue at an ATM to withdraw cash from their Card.
Uniquely, EmbassyCard prepaid card holders will never be asked to enter their PIN on the Merchant Terminal unlike regular debit and credit cards.
EmbassyCard comes with its own unique App and Dashboard, which helps customers and merchants to manage their money and review their transaction history.
How is it different to mobile money?
With EmbassyCard, physical cash is exchanged for digital cash which is stored on the Card. Payment is taken directly from the Card’s stored value and not from the mobile. You do not need a phone or mobile network to make payment. It is cheaper and quicker. Payments are made from the contactless pre-paid EmbassyCard independent of a network availability.
EmbassyCard does not require a Mobile Network Operator to complete a transaction if the mobile device is connected to WIFI and payment can be made or taken offline when a network or WIFI is not available.
What happens if my card is stolen?
Embassycard.com is available 24/7 and, our Digital Cash Payment server systems is Cloud based with high level of availability and redundancy. Customers can contact us directly via the website to report Lost or Stolen Cards. Cards reported as stolen can be blocked by EmbassyCard server using the customer registered phone and the remaining value on the Card may be returned to the owner after due process and investigation.
How do I load money onto the card?
From a bank account, from cash, by money transfer or through government benefits.
Can I protect my card with a PIN?
Yes, the card can be protected by a PIN. You can Lock and Unlock your Card at any time. You will need to unlock the Card to make payment. The Merchant will never ask you for your PIN, or to enter it on their Terminal.
Can I change my PIN?
You can change your PIN through a phone after quoting your old PIN at any time.
What if I forget my PIN?
A PIN Unblock code can be received via a mobile phone after cardholder verification. The unblock code allows the customer to choose a new PIN. You will require your Mother’s Maiden name that you provided during card membership registration. EmbassyCard may change a fee for this service.
Where is the PIN held?
Unlike bank cards, the PIN is ONLY held by the card and nowhere else in the system.
How do I cash out?
We call this Cashback in the App. Money may be taken out through any EmbassyCard merchant as Cash Back with a fee payable to the Merchant. You may choose to Deposit your Digital Cash via the App into your Bank Account from where you can go through the traditional bank services, including withdraw from the ATM with your Bank debit card. EmbassyCard encourages you to go Cashless and be safe.
Can I transfer money to friends and family?
Yes, money can be transferred to anyone instantly using the EmbassyCard App. You can transfer money securely by using the Card-2-Card Money Transfer functions in the App for local and to remote recipient.
Can I pay my bills with EmbassyCard?
Customers can settle their bills with EmbassyCard. Merchants like Utility companies can use our Request-2-Pay service for bill collection. The bills will be taken directly from your Card Balance once you have given us permission to do so in the App. The bill will be paid directly to the Company, Government or Merchant requesting the payment.
We can collect your EmbassyCard Card delivery cost using the Request-to-Pay service.
Is it legal?
Yes, it is backed by a national bank regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The underlying financial asset of the Digital Currency Naira is issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
I do not have a bank account; can I still use it?
Yes, as a Customer you can select EmbassyCard LITE and still enjoy the benefits of going cashless with Digital Cash. EmbassyCard would encourage you to open a Bank Account with a Nigerian bank if you qualify to do so. You can register for our EmbassyCard Green or EmbassyCard Gold and choose to open a Bank Account using our Referral Service with our partner Banks.
How much will it cost?
Our Charges and Fees are available in our Terms and Conditions here. There will be Terms of Service for large merchants and for premium services under a separate commercial agreement.
When can I get it?
EmbassyCard will be officially launched in Nigeria April 2021. EmbassyCard is also available for customers globally and for tourist visiting Nigeria. You can register for your Card via the website or EmbassyCard App and get it delivered to you anywhere in the world.
EmbassyCard is only accepted for payment, or spend, in Nigeria. Suitable for Nigerian residents, tourists or Nigerian Businesses or Merchants.
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