What is Carte Blue? Carte Blue Review, Features

Carte Bleue is the main debit card system in France. Carte Bleue cards allow transactions without online authorization from the issuing bank. Carte Bleue has now merged with the more general CB (or carte bancaire).

Development History

-In 1967, Carte Bleue was founded, and at the beginning it united six French banks: BNP Paribas, Credit Commercial, Credit Nord, Credit Commercial, Credit Lyonnais and Societe Generale. Visa dual-branded cards began to be issued in 1973 under the name of Carte Bleue Internationale, and were renamed Carte Bleue Visa in 1976.

-In 1992, all Cartes Bleues / CB cards were smart cards. Merchants in France had to enter a password when using Cartes Bleues cards for transactions. The chip on the smart card was used to verify the card and authorize the transaction.

-In 2003, in order to facilitate acceptance abroad, Cartes Bleues / CB cards began to migrate smart chips to the international standard EMV.

-In 2010, Cartes Bleues was phased out and replaced by Visa Classic Debit Card.