Template:Expand French Moneo, sometimes branded as mon€o, was an electronic purse system available on French bank cards to allow small purchases to be made without cash used from 1999 to 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
Moneo is based on the German system Geldkarte. It was launched in Tours on 30 September 1999 by economy minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Supported by all French banks, Moneo was tested in Brittany and Montpellier in 2002, and from 2004 Moneo has been added to most French bank cards.Template:Cn
The system had been aimed at small retailers such as bakeries and cafés and intended for purchases of less than €30. The card was inserted into a handheld Moneo reader by the merchant who entered the transaction amount for the customer. The customer then confirmed the purchase by pushing a button on the keypad; the exact amount was debited from the card within a few seconds. As well as the multipurpose bank card version, anonymous cards (also smart cards) were available for the use of people without bank accounts, such as children and tourists.Template:Cn