LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Nov 28, 2013) - From 26 November 2013, Nationwide Building Society, in partnership with Visa Europe, is announcing the launch of V.me by Visa, a digital wallet that will offer the Society's over six and a half million credit and debit card customers an innovative new way to make shopping online faster, easier and more secure. Nationwide is the first financial services provider to launch this digital wallet in the UK, which aims to provide customers with a seamless online shopping experience.

V.me by Visa allows customers to upload multiple cards into a digital wallet. These are safely stored enabling customers to make future purchases without the need to repeatedly enter their card details. As card details are not being passed on to each individual merchant, V.me by Visa is not only faster and easier, but also provides a more secure way of making payments.

Graham Beale, Nationwide's Chief Executive, said: "I'm excited that Nationwide is once again at the forefront of technological innovation by offering the V.me by Visa digital wallet, which will provide our members with a safe, secure and enhanced online shopping experience.

"In 1997, Nationwide were first to offer the UK consumer internet banking and we are always looking to invest in ways to improve the customer experience by pioneering new technology. In 2008 Nationwide took the decision to invest £1bn in the future of the organisation by implementing a large scale systems modernisation programme."

Steve Perry, Chief Commercial Officer for Visa Europe, added: "We're delighted that Nationwide has launched the UK's first V.me by Visa wallet to its members. The wallet can already be used at over 1,400 online merchants, including household names like Curry's and Clarks. By Christmas there will be more than 4,000 places where you can use V.me by Visa in the UK, and more across Europe."

More recently the Society has rolled out a number of digital innovations focused on enhancing customer experience, such as developing one of the highest ranked mobile banking apps and investing in future branch technology with the Cisco Remote Expert. This enables customers to "meet" with a mortgage consultant through a high definition video link.

V.me by Visa is the latest phase of Nationwide's commitment to creating new ways of delivering great customer service and competitive products through digital and technological advances.

Over 1,400 online merchants already accept V.me by Visa, including Clark's, Curry's and PC World. Plans are in place to grow the number of merchants to more than 4,000 later this year.