Buying movie tickets and popcorn at certain Colorado movie theaters can be done in a “blink.” Regal Cinemas – owners of United Artists movie chain – is using Chase Bank’s “contactless” credit cards.
The cards, which have a microchip embedded and are known as blink cards, allow cardholders to simply wave their cards in front of a scanner at the ticket window and concession stand. Regal Cinemas has outfitted box offices and concession stands in all 12 of its theaters in the state. The company’s theaters in New York, Orlando, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Las Vegas are among the first to have the technology installed.
“Installation was completed about 30 days ago in all Colorado locations,” said Regal Entertainment Group spokesman Dick Westerling. Customers with Regal Entertainment Group branded credit cards are receiving new blink cards and can use them anywhere blink or contactless payments are accepted.
Knoxville, Tenn.-based Regal Entertainment Group, which runs the 579-theater chain, is controlled by Denver financier Philip Anschutz.
Chase introduced the blink technology to Colorado this summer, with terminals at more than 400 Arby’s, Walgreens, 7-Eleven and Regal Cinemas in the state.
The banking giant took over local Bank One operations earlier this year.
The blink technology allows merchants to serve customers faster while allowing customers to keep control of their transactions. Handing over a credit card to clerks has sometimes led to credit-card fraud.
“Customers feel that this approach is very safe and secure; people like that they stayed in control and had greater peace of mind,” said Tom O’Donnell, a senior vice president for Chase. “The transaction has to be an intentional act by the customer and there has to be a transaction ready to be paid.”
Chase and American Express are two of the first credit-card providers to offer the contactless payment system. Chase has issued 1 million blink cards this year and will continue to roll out cards to its 95 million credit-card holders over the next several years.
The company is also working with merchants to install blink readers at a variety of retail locations nationwide.
Staff writer Kimberly S. Johnson can be reached at 303-820-1088 or kjohnson@denverpost.com.
