ICE – Paybefore Awards win
3rd draft – -06/05/2015
ICE WINS PAYBEFORE BEST TRAVEL COMPANION AWARD
ICE Travellers Cashcard recognised for second year running
iceplc.com
Underlining its commitment to help travellers manage their holiday money, ICE – International
Currency Exchange, the travel money and prepaid currency card provider has won the Best
Travel Companion Award in the prestigious Paybefore Awards Europe 2015 for the ICE
Travellers Cashcard. It is the second year in a row that ICE has successfully scooped this
coveted award, despite stiff competition from an increasing number of global entrants to the
award scheme.
The Paybefore Awards Europe were created to celebrate the best of the prepaid, mobile and
emerging payments industry in the U.K. and Europe. This year’s winners represent companies
entering the European market from the U.S., Asia and South Africa; increasingly prominent
players from Germany and Gibraltar, as well as prepaid pioneers from Italy and the U.K.
Koko Sarkari, COO at ICE, comments, “Voted for by our peers, the Paybefore Awards are
particularly satisfying to win, especially for the second year running. Once again, the
competition was fierce and we are delighted the ICE Travellers Cashcard shone out, keeping
ICE at the forefront of innovations in the prepaid currency card sector.”
The ICE Euro and US Dollar Travellers Cashcards are free to order if the first load is £700 or
over, free to use for ATM1 withdrawals, with no penalties for inactivity, and no fees for top ups
by debit card or bank transfer2. With rates fixed at the time the money is loaded, ICE Travellers
Cashcards offer travellers a secure and convenient method of payment overseas and, when
they get home, a 7 day same rate buy-back guarantee3.
“Paybefore Awards Europe recognises the companies pushing the industry forward with
innovative solutions that improve the cardholder and client experience,” said Loraine DeBonis,
Paybefore editor-in-chief and chair of the judging panel. “Companies like International
Currency Exchange prove that electronic payments will continue to expand and thrive,” she
1
Some ATM operators and merchants may charge a fee or set their own limits
There is a Top Up fee of 2.85% for sterling card. Top ups made by credit card incur a fee of 2%
3
Up to $100/€100, 7 days from the date of the last top up.
2
continued. “We’re proud to recognise their contributions to propelling the emerging payments
industry forward.”
“The power of payments is transformative, and our Paybefore Awards Europe winners are at
the forefront of that transformation,” added Marilyn Bochicchio, Paybefore’s CEO. “These
innovative businesses have created options and opportunities for millions of consumers—to
pay, to exchange value and to be paid.”
The winners now compete for the Best-in-Category distinction, which will be announced during
a presentation at the All Payments Expo Europe in Marbella, Spain, on 18-20 May 2015.
Ends
April 2015
For further press information please contact the ICE Press Office at HSL – Parm Heer, Laura Welsh or
Alison Reeson on 020 8977 9132 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
International Currency Exchange (ICE) has been providing retail foreign exchange for over 40 years and today
has over 400 locations in 20 countries, on four continents, conducting one transaction every 6 seconds. Through
its retail network, ICE offers a wide range of products and services to support the travelling public’s requirements,
including foreign currency and phonecards. ICE’s online products include commission free secure next day home
delivery currency and the ICE Travellers Cashcard, an innovative prepaid MasterCard® in £, € or US$, which can
be loaded with holiday spending money before travelling, allowing all the convenience of using a bank debit or
credit card, but without the risks and charges sometimes associated Find ICE on Facebook /iceplc and follow them
on Twitter @icetravelmoney | iceplc.com
The ICE Travellers Cashcard is issued by R. Raphael & Sons plc, a UK Bank authorised by the Prudential
Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority
(registration number 161302) and is permitted to issue e-money. Head office and registered office at 19-21
Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7ED, company registration number 01288938.
Raphaels Bank is a leading issuer of prepaid cards in Europe with over 5 million cards issued through 21 partners
across 14 European Countries with over 180 programmes ranging from gift cards to full Chip & PIN cards to mobile
technology payment solutions | raphaelsbank.com
Payment Card Technologies (PCT) is the programme manager for the ICE Travellers Cashcard. A leading
programme manager in Europe providing full debit and prepaid solutions from MasterCard and Visa, PCT is owned
by Lenlyn Holdings plc and is a sister company to Raphaels Bank. PCT provides one of the most robust, reloadable
prepaid card systems available in the market, offering customised and flexible prepaid card solutions to retailers,
online merchants, large and small corporations operating in a fast moving, dynamic and global industry as well as
driving emerging payment innovation with a new banking lite platform product. | paymentct.com