Russian FA Introduces Campus Card

Vienna/Moscow (19.8.2009) - The Campus Card System is a joint solution of the Russian Savingsbank and the Russian Finance Academy providing students, postgraduates, and university staff with a wide range of services through the use of smart cards.

The system is the first implementation of its kind within the Russian education system. The Finance Academy was established in May 1919 and is one of the oldest Russian universities offering economics and law programs. The Academy is now made up of 14 faculties, 40 departments, 3 institutes, 2 high schools, 2 research institutes, 8 centers, 2 science labs, and a network of regional offices. The Campus Card is a personalized smart card that contains a payment and an identification application. The payment application, which is based on BGS’ DUET technology, resides in the contact chip and is issued by Sberbank. The ID application is owned by the Finance Academy, and is based on a different technology platform residing in the contactless chip.

As an ID tool, the card can be used for the following tasks:

• Access to the building, rooms, events, etc.
• Electronic student’s record book
• Electronic library card
• Access to the Academy’s information resources (via personal passwords and keys)
• Account management
• Voting

The access control and accounting system is a powerful reporting tool for creating, managing, and delivering information on working hours, students class attendance, access logs, etc. The card has three physical components:

• The contact chip contains the information profile of the cardholder, medical and social information, details of discount and loyalty programs. New applications can be added to the card without re-issuing it.
• The contactless chip can be used to access information resources and rooms, and to pay for the public transport.
• The card surface displays personal data of the cardholder (full name, photo, etc.) and identification data of the card (card number, bar code).

The second application is a payment application that allows the Finance Academy to offer secure and convenient card payments within the institution, to reduce the amount of cash held on the premises, to increase the quality and speed of provided services, and to control the flow of funds.

The financial application of the card includes two balances: the Pre-Authorized Value Balance (PAV) and a non-PIN protected e-Purse balance (FAST). PAV is intended to securely store larger amounts of money and to perform payment transactions only with the use of the PIN. FAST is designed for quick and convenient purchases of small value goods and services. A card can contain up to eight payment applications.

Funds are added to the card account, transferred to the card and moved from PAV to FAST via ATMs, POS and self-service terminals. Card payments are accepted throughout the campus at snack and beverage vending machines, parking meters, and self-service terminals.