Gemalto to safeguard Vietcombank's on-line banking service with Asia's first commercial EMV CAP solution

Hanoi, Vietnam and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Apr 7, 2009 - Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announces it is providing its Ezio Strong Authentication Server to Vietnam's largest bank, Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank). This comprehensive two-factor authentication solution takes advantage of MasterCard's Chip Authentication Program (CAP) and Visa's Dynamic Passcode Authentication (DPA), both of which are part of the EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) standard. Working with EMV microprocessor cards, the system provides one-time-password (OTP) and digital signature capabilities critical in providing security for corporate online banking services. Vietcombank EMV credit card holders can use the same card to pay for purchases, to gain access to their online banking services and to be identified by the bank for branch-based transactions.

Dao Minh Tuan, Deputy General Director for Vietcombank commented, "This solution addresses several of our key concerns simultaneously. We need to secure our online banking services. We want to enhance the customer experience by simplifying access to banking services. And of course, we want to take advantage of existing EMV microprocessor deployments for further purposes. Being able to do all this with such a simple installation is a great advantage for us in many ways".

To create a more consistent and unified way to access their services, users use the same corporate EMV microprocessor card for their purchases as well as access their online banking service. Users simply insert their corporate card into a custom designed handheld card reader to generate a one-time password for secure access to their online banking service. Or in a similar fashion, perform secure fund transfers using digital signatures.

This also means convenience for users as all the functionality resides in the credit card and since cardholders usually carry it with them they can use any reader to access their service with total confidence.

"Consumers want the convenience and they want the security to go with it. Banks need the common platform approach to make things easier", added Tan Teck Lee, president Gemalto Asia. "Like the mobile phone, EMV microprocessor cards enjoy worldwide use and loading more functionality in them simply leverages its strengths in providing security whilst making it easier for consumers to enjoy more services. For banks already issuing EMV cards, it's an easy way to upgrade to OTP solutions".

EMV-CAP/DPA is already used by more than 8 million online banking customers worldwide. Gemalto supported its fast adoption for customers in the United Kingdom as well as North and East Europe. Vietcombank is the first financial institution in Asia to deploy this technology for securing online banking services.

The complete solution is built from key components including the Ezio Strong Authentication Server, the EMV CAP-compliant card reader used to display one-time passwords and EMV microprocessor cards. Around this, Gemalto and Vietnam's largest system integrator FPT-IS (Financing and Promoting Technology Information Systems) again team up to provide consultation, project management, integration and support.

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto's software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.

About Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam

Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) is one of the largest banks in Vietnam, which just has been ranked as the most satisfying bank in Vietnam, with a tradition of launching new products and services based upon state-of-the-art technology. Selected as the "Best Bank in Vietnam" for several years, Vietcombank serves millions of Vietnamese and foreign customers. The first bank to enter the card business in Vietnam in the early 1990s, Vietcombank today issues all of the world's most popular cards, including American Express, Visa, MasterCard, JCB and Diners Club.

Media Contacts:

Gemalto Asia
Marcos Fernandes
T.: +852 2306 3626
M.: +852 6051 6425
marcos.fernandes@gemalto.com

Grayling Global
Aparna Pingali Agrawal
T.: +65 6325 4606
F.: +65 6325 4616
Aparna.agrawal@sg.grayling.com