Heritage Bank Achieves PCI DSS Recertification

Heritage Bank Plc has successfully attained the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 3.2 recertification.

The bank achieved this feat having achieved the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO 27001:2013 recertification recently.

According to Heritage Bank, with its legacy of innovation, the recertification reaffirmed its position in the payment card industry in Nigeria, “as first to issue a transparent Mastercard debit card in Africa and pioneered the mPoS in response to the CBN Cash-less initiative.”

A statement signed by the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications of the bank, Fela Ibidapo described the PCI DSS as a proprietary information security standard for organisations that process, store, transmit or access cardholder information for major debit, credit, prepaid, e-purse, ATM and PoS cards.

The standard’s framework originated from the five global payment brand programmes (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB) and was designed to increase cardholder data (CHD) controls to reduce credit card fraud.

Any enterprise that falls within the scope of the standard must implement the standard and seek compliance.

The PCI DSS helps enterprises dramatically reduce credit card fraud and brings significant additional benefits, including: increased bank/consumer credibility; reduced/optimised business impact and risk; and fewer breaches/increased security awareness.

Speaking on the award of the PCI DSS’ certification, MD/ CEO of the bank, Ifie Sekibo, said it was a strong indicator that Heritage Bank consistently has its customers’ interest at the core of its business operations, is committed to appropriately protect customers’ information as well as maintaining a safe and secure environment for customer transactions.