Taco Bell Tests MasterCard PayPass Contactless Payment Option

MasterCard Worldwide and Taco Bell announced today that they are testing MasterCard® PayPass(TM), an innovative contactless payment solution, with the intent to launch at all 1,300 company owned restaurants and additional participating franchise locations nationwide. Taco Bell is the nation’s leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain, making it the perfect setting for this quick and easy payment option. PayPass will be accepted at both dine-in and drive-thru locations. Approximately 100 Taco Bell stores will begin accepting MasterCard PayPass in the fourth quarter of 2007, with additional stores added throughout 2008, pending a successful test.

"As a quick service restaurant we understand the importance of our customers’ time, and accepting MasterCard PayPass provides an obvious benefit to them," said Greg Creed, President, Taco Bell Corp. "PayPass gives Taco Bell customers the opportunity to order their food, pay for it, grab it and run without having to search for cash."

With MasterCard PayPass, consumers no longer need to fumble for cash or hand their card to a cashier for purchases. Users simply tap their PayPass-enabled card or device on the PayPass reader and are on their way. Purchases under $25 will not require the customer to sign the receipt, further speeding up the transaction. In addition, Taco Bell will continue to accept traditional magnetic-stripe payment cards.

"Taco Bell’s decision to accept MasterCard PayPass demonstrates its focus on improving the customer experience," said T.J. Sharkey, Group Head, National Accounts, U.S. Commerce Development, MasterCard Worldwide. "PayPass is revolutionizing the quick service industry by enabling customers to ‘tap and go’ when making purchases, keeping lines short and moving more customers through restaurants faster."