Nexi, JCB and UnionPay launch Tap & Go in Campania

Nexi has signed agreements with JCB and UnionPay International to enable Tap & Go contactless payments across public transport in Italy’s Campania region, including Naples, under the Unico Campania integrated ticketing consortium.

The service lets passengers tap contactless bank cards or smartphones at station gates, ticket validators, buses and staffed ticket offices on metro lines, funiculars and local buses. Transactions will be processed through Nexi’s payment infrastructure and the global networks of JCB and UnionPay International.

Unico Campania manages ticketing for multiple regional operators. The partners say the rollout will simplify travel for visitors carrying JCB or UnionPay cards by allowing boarding or ticket purchases without pre-purchasing. The system will automatically calculate the best fare based on journeys taken within 24 hours.

Tap & Go will be rolled out progressively across lines and services. Unico Campania will publish an updated list of enabled services on its website as deployment continues. Operators will receive payments through existing card networks, so they can serve international customers without adding separate ticketing channels.

“The new service launched in the Campania region together with JCB and UnionPay International demonstrates our ability to bring the best payment solutions to local communities across Italy,” Filippo Maria Signoretti, Merchant Solutions Director at Nexi, commented. “These agreements also allow us to support the digitalization of services for citizens, with mobility representing a key element in this transformation.”

“We are pleased to partner with Nexi and Unico Campania to expand JCB acceptance across public transport in the Campania region,” Hiroyuki Katano, Executive Vice President of JCB International, noted. “This will make it easier for JCB Cardmembers, particularly from Asia, to access transport services using contactless payments without buying tickets in advance.”

“We are pleased to support the expansion of digital mobility services in the Campania region through this collaboration,” James Yang, Executive Vice President for Europe at UnionPay International, added. “Enabling seamless, secure and convenient payment experiences in public transportation is important for international travelers and local communities.”

The Campania deployment follows a May 2024 rollout in Rome where Nexi, JCB and UnionPay introduced the contactless payment model on public transport in Europe for the first time.