In message , at 11:25:18 on Tue, 28 Feb
2017, Neil Williams remarked:

I read the comment as meaning the "new" Oyster card will be in effect
a contactless pre-paid credit card with zero credit loaded, but an
arrangement to auto-topup from a bank account by the exact amount of
any journeys made.

Whatever would be the point in that? That would be duplicating the
function of a contactless debit card.

Some people are averse to contactless credit cards, because they
perceive a security risk (or at the very least a lot of hassle sorting
out security breaches), others don't have them either because of their
personal status, or the type of bank account.

What it will do is store credit, but will do so on a back-end online
system rather than the card, the latter being simple RFID.

Then it's not really at all "like a contactless credit/debit card".
--
Roland Perry