Government and Public Sector Cards

Our Government Procurement Cards and Lodge Accounts help Government and public sector institutions reduce their purchasing costs and take control of their business travel expenditure.

Meanwhile, our Pre-Loaded Card controls the expenditure of public sector organisations making regular, long-term payments, such as the direct payment of benefits.

• Show me information on the Government Procurement Card

With the Office of Government Commerce, we have devised a card solution designed to streamline your organisation's procurement process, manage cash flow and strengthen supplier relationships. You will be able to speed up your payment times to suppliers - two to four days is typical - and dramatically reduce paperwork.

As all payments are made with a simple card transaction, your business won't need an invoice or purchase order. What's more, you will also be able to use reports from some transactions for reclaiming VAT.

Implementation is simple, as our dedicated team will issue the cards and train your cardholders. And managing payments will be made even easier through a unique additional service Transaction Data Matching.

Transaction Data Matching

Transaction Data Matching automatically matches your organisation's electronic orders with the corresponding electronic supplier invoices, then sends a tailored file to your accounting system. So, in effect, thousands of order payments can be processed in seconds, with all the successful matched invoices being charged to the Procurement Card. (Terms and conditions apply.)

• Show me a customer's experience of Transaction Data Matching (PDF, 161KB)

Key benefits

• Speed up your VAT reclaim - use our card at any of the UK's 11,000 VAT-enabled outlets and you may be able to dispense with invoices
• Worldwide reach - accepted at 30 million outlets worldwide
• Up-to-date payment information - online reporting through CardsOnLine means you can view transactions in real-time
• Greater business knowledge - the management reports generated by Cards OnLine will give you insights into spending patterns
• Control expenditure - with the power to limit and direct individuals' spending, you will be able to shape organisation-wide expenditure
• Added security - as well as chip and PIN protection, your business will benefit from our security system, RBS Secure, for online purchasing, plus Corporate Liability Waiver Insurance to protect against cardholder misuse

• Show me information on the Government Lodge Account

Our Government Lodge Accounts have been designed with the Office of Government Commerce to help your organisation control its expenditure and give your employees a flexible way to travel.

No cards are issued with the account. Instead travellers in your organisation charge their expenses to one central account that is held with your travel agent. This, in turn, can also be used to generate valuable management reports.

Key benefits

• Simple reporting - receive one monthly statement for all your travel expenditure, either on paper or electronically
• Travel policy compliance - a detailed daily, weekly or monthly report will make complying with travel policy more straightforward
• Free service - benefit from up to 38 days' interest free credit
• Insurance cover - Corporate Liability Waver Insurance will ensure your business is covered against employee misuse. Terms and conditions apply
• Free travel assistance - benefit from pre-travel advice, medical and legal advice when abroad and baggage delay insurance. Terms and conditions apply

• Show me a customer's experience of the Lodge Account
  (PDF, 58KB)

• Show me information on the Government Pre-Loaded Card

If your organisation is making regular, longer-term payments, such as the payment of disability benefits, a Pre-Loaded Card could be the ideal solution.

You tailor each card to the cardholder's needs, specifying payment limits and permitted categories. If appropriate, you can also include an option for cardholders to supplement their allowance with additional personal funds. As a result, you are able to control expenditure while your employees gain the payment flexibility they need.

Key benefits

• Control expenditure - shape individual (and so organisational) expenditure by establishing the payment criteria. View real time payment and management information through our online reporting service, Cards OnLine
• Improve efficiency - paper, cheque and cash-based payment systems are things of the past; all your company's recurring payments are automated; and online reporting reduces the need for paper records for auditing
• Greater flexibility - the card is accepted worldwide; secondary cardholders can be set up; and the card can be designed to reflect your organisation's brand and customer communications
• More effective support - we will help you implement the programme, then provide ongoing support
• Added security - as well as chip and PIN protection, your business will benefit from our bespoke online security system, RBS Secure