National Irish Bank moved closer to the "cashless society" with the introduction of a smartcard yesterday.

Consumers use the Citrus card, only available at Blanchardstown shopping centre in Dublin, as they would notes and coins in participating shops.

Almost two thirds of the centre's retailers - including Easons, Boots, Dunnes Stores and Bewley's - have signed up for the service and negotiations with others are ongoing, the bank says.

Cardholders may load electronic cash directly from their bank account onto their Citrus card over the telephone by using a homeload device or through a cashless ATM located at the shopping centre.

Customer signatures are not required but a security lock feature stops unauthorised usage, said a spokeswoman.

In addition to cash, the card includes a loyalty scheme, the Rehab Citrus draw, where cardholders earn "draw points" for every full pound they spend.

Proceeds from the draw will go to Rehab's work in training, employing and caring for people with disabilities.

Citrus is part of NIB parent company, National Australia Bank's (NAB) £6 million (€7.6 million) investment in a smartcard infrastructure for the Republic.

Ideally, consumers in a cashless society carry just one card for all identification and spending purposes from parking meters and buses to telephones and shops.

Citrus is considered an optimistic undertaking following the April cancellation of a similar Visa Cash smartcard scheme in Ennis, Co Clare.