Interswitch achieves Global Standard in PIN Security in Kenya

Interswitch has announced that it is the first company not only in Kenya but East Africa to attain the PCI PIN Security Certification. This is another first for Interswitch after being certified with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) Certification in 2014, then under the Paynet brand.

The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a Cardholder Verification Method that is used to verify the cardholder at the point of transaction. Ensuring the confidentiality of cardholder PINs throughout the payment processing cycle requires adherence to a set of globally recognized security requirements. Such protection requires the implementation of specific controls to assure that the intended level of security is achieved by all participants in the payment process.

Commenting on the certification, Mr. Bernard Matthewman, Interswitch East Africa (K) CEO, said. “Attainment of PCI PIN Security certification is an assurance that customers’ confidentiality of PIN is safeguarded. This assurance applies to customers of all institutions that use Interswitch for payments processing. Currently, Interswitch undertakes payments processing for over 40% of the financial institutions in East Africa who have outsourced debit and credit card issuance, electronic financial transaction switching, ATM management and other financial services. This number is expected to grow in 2016.”