Hyderabad: Global Trust Bank (GTB), India’s leading private sector bank, has launched Visa Electron — an online debit card under the brand name Proton.

With Visa Electron, GTB debit cardholders will enjoy unsurpassed global acceptance, convenience and versatility. The debit card is accepted at 10 million merchant outlets and 750,000 ATMs worldwide, including 40,000 Visa Electron merchant outlets and 2,500 Visa ATMs in India.

Visa Electron allows consumers direct electronic access to their bank accounts from anywhere in the world. It addresses the growing consumer desire to use electronic payment in place of cash. It is ideal in the current climate, when customers need a payment system that provides security and convenience, as it is protected by the same extensive international risk management systems as Visa credit cards.

GTB’s Proton International Debit Card was launched by Andhra Pradesh Home Minister T Devendar Goud. Pullela Gopi Chand, the All-England Badminton Champion, was the first recipient of the GTB Proton International debit card.

“Debit cards are increasingly becoming the preferred payment mode internationally. We propose to offer Proton debit cards free to customers who maintain a pre-specified average quarterly minimum balance. It will also be offered free to our corporate salary account customers,” says GTB managing director Sudhakar Gande.

Says Visa International country manager (South Asia) Santanu Mukherjee: “The potential for debit cards in India is enormous and the consumer base of debit cards will grow much faster than credit cards.”

First introduced in India in 2000, Visa Electron is ideal for both consumers and merchants here as it offers buyers a new payment alternative while working on the existing infrastructure of sellers.

“Visa Electron numbers have already crossed the 1.5 million-mark and this partnership with GTB will significantly grow the base of Visa Electron cardholders in India. GTB accountholders will now be able to experience the convenience, flexibility and safety associated with a Visa Electron,” says Mukherjee.

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