OREANDA-NEWS. September 07, 2011. Citadele Bank will join 3D Secure system on 1 November 2011. This will ensure users of MasterCard and Maestro with additional security when shopping online, reported the press-centre of Citadele Bank.

3D Secure system was introduced in order for making online payments by payment cards to be safer than ever before. The system carries out two important functions. Firstly, it prohibits making unsanctioned payments on the Internet by a payment card which belongs to someone else. This is because shoppers are required to enter additional identification data. Secondly, it enables identifying traders who are registered in 3D Secure internet purchases system. Thus traders have larger responsibilities toward the client.

“Security of our clients’ finances is our priority and we have worked purposefully during the first year of Citadele’s activity to introduce 3D Secure system at the earliest convenience. Initially the system will serve MasterCard and Maestro payment cards and soon we plan to attach Visa and American Express® Cards issued by Citadele Bank to 3D Secure system as well,” says Guntis Belavskis, Member of Citadele’s Board.

Thousands of online stores across the world have joined 3D Secure system and their number continues to increase. MasterCard SecureCode logotype, located on the website, indicates that an online store has joined 3D Secure system and that it supports secure payments by MasterCard and Maestro.

- How is 3D Secure system going to change online payment procedures?
“Users of MasterCard and Maestro, who have subscribed to the Online Banking, from November on, when making payments at online stores registered with 3D Secure, will receive a notification next to their name, last name, card number, expiry date and security code (CVC2) fields requesting to enter their username and password used for Citadele’s Online Banking. Actually this is an additional password which is provided especially for making online payments and it serves somewhat similarly to a PIN code. Such additional authorization prevents possibilities of fraud at online stores and significantly increases the level of security and protection of payment cards”,explains G. Belavskis.

“In comparison to other banks, we have ensured our clients with an additional safety cushion – Citadele’s clients will not need to enter their internet bank passwords at the moment of payment. Thus we will provide additional defence from unsanctioned fraudulent attempts to access our clients’ Online Banking,” comments G. Belavskis.

We would like to remind that in order for online purchases to be safe, clients need be subscribers to the Online Banking. Clients who have not subscribed to the Online Banking are welcome to appear at any branch office of Citadele to carry out subscription.

3D Secure system is provided by the Bank free of charge.

After introducing 3D Secure system Citadele's clients who use MasterCard or Maestro payment cards will be able to make online purchases at stores which are not registered with 3D Secure system as well. In such cases clients will be required no additional identification data. However, this will simultaneously indicate that shopping with a particular trader is not as safe as with the websites that are registered with the security system.