5,000 merchants affiliated with CartaSi include MasterPass™ in their on-line payment solutions

Rome –  18 February 2016 – MasterCard simplifies and speeds up online purchasing: 5,000 merchants affiliated with CartaSi have included MasterPass™ in their online payment solutions. MasterPass is MasterCard® global digital payment solution for e-commerce that eliminates the need to provide payment and shipping information for each transaction thus making purchasing easier and extremely secure.

Thanks to the agreement between MasterCard and CartaSi, MasterPass™ is now accepted by 90% of Italian e-commerce websites that operate online payments: therefore, online merchants can offer their customers a faster and more secure payment solution, significantly reducing the shopping cart abandonment rate.

At a moment in history where Italy’s e-commerce is experiencing continuous growth (+21.4% in 2015, source Osservatorio Acquisti CartaSi), the multi-platform approach for e-commerce is fundamental to make sure no business opportunities are missed. Exploiting technological innovations in the payment industry, in fact, allows merchants to adopt more and more effective solutions that guarantee them to remain competitive in the online channel that is expected to grow also in the future: in fact, in 2016 the forecasts made by the Osservatorio Acquisti CartaSi estimate e-commerce to increase by 15.9%.

“We are pleased to announce that, thanks to the collaboration with CartaSi, an ever increasing number of Italian merchants will join MasterPass, our global digital payment platform – commented Massimiliano Gallo, Head of Massimiliano Gallo, Head of Acceptance Development & Merchant Engagement Italy & Greece. – Our objective is to transform the digital payment sector and offer a simpler and more secure shopping experience, that allows consumers to pay via a simple click on any connected mobile device and retailers to reap the great potential of e-commerce, through state-of-the-art technologies”.

“The objective of 5,000 merchants affiliated with CartaSi joining MasterPass is to further boost e-commerce, a channel that in 2015 represented 20% of all payment card purchases in Italy – stated Roberto Cartanzaro, Marketing Director of CartaSi – We believe that it is essential to provide our customers with innovative online payment solutions that are effective, convenient and secure so that e-commerce can continue to be a fundamental lever of the economy of our country”.

Among the categories of online shops that have opted for MasterPass to offer their customers more convenience and security with their online or in-app payments we find travel booking, tourist accommodation, consumer electronics and mobile phone websites where the ease-of-use and speed of MasterPass can help retailers increase sales, retain customers and reduce costs.

Download our Mobile World Congress app or find a complete list of MasterCard news announcements from the conference in our Digital Press Kit. Follow us @MasterCardUKBiz or using the hashtag #WhatsNext to join the conversation.

MasterCard:

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a company that operates in the global payments and technology sector. It manages the fastest payment processing network in the world, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and companies spanning 210 countries and territories. MasterCard products and solutions make day-to-day commercial activities, such as for example shopping, travelling, business management and treasury management easier, more secure and efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, @MasterCardIT and take part to the discussion on Cashless Conversations Blog and abbonati to receive the latest news.

MasterPass™ by MasterCard®

MasterPass™, MasterCard® global digital payment platform is the digital payment solution available in 29 countries throughout the world. Well over 250,000 merchants worldwide have joined MasterPass since it was launched in February 2013. MasterPass provides consumers with a digital wallet where they can save their cards and transfer all information in one place that is easy and secure, thus saving time. MasterPass can be used through different mobile devices worldwide. Sometimes, when the purchasing process via a mobile device is not straightforward consumers tend to abandon the process: MasterPass simplicity, speed and ease-of-use can help retailers increase their sales and cut down costs. Trenitalia, Alitalia, Italo, Media World, Vodafone, Aruba.it, Ibs.it,  Monclick and 3 Italia are among the Italian companies offering users the MasterPass platform.
Contact

MasterCard:

Giuliana Abbate, Tel +39 0649259223, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FleishmanHillard:

Laura Meroni, Tel +39 02 31804 707, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Edoardo Grandi, Tel + 39 02 31804 710, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Monica Vinco, Tel +39 02 31804 705, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Impressive 150% year on year growth for MasterCard and Maestro contactless transactions, as merchants and issuers capitalize on opportunities

Download our Mobile World Congress app or find a complete list of MasterCard news announcements from the conference in our Digital Press Kit. Follow us @MasterCardEU or using the hashtag #WhatsNext to join the conversation.

Waterloo, Belgium – February 17, 2016 – Europeans continue to opt for contactless technology when making payments, with the total number of MasterCard and Maestro processed transactions passing the 1 billion mark in 2015 – an increase of 150% from 2014. Already in Europe, on average, 13% of in-store transactions processed by MasterCard in Q4 2015 were contactless.

New data reveal the number of cards, mobile phones or other devices tapping soared by 121%, and the total MasterCard and Maestro spend on contactless transactions was up by 183% year on year. Data also shows the number of contactless cards and devices issued to consumers increased by 50% in 2015.

The results are telling, supporting consumers’ increasingly positive attitudes towards contactless payments, which offer speed and convenience, and enhance the overall shopping experience.

But these aren’t the only factors driving this trend. Contactless payments offer a safer alternative to cash, providing consumers with the added benefit of state-of-the-art multi-layered security protection. With increased usage, comes familiarity and reassurance; more than two thirds of consumers now believe contactless technology is just as safe or more secure than traditional forms of payment.

In Europe alone, there are already over 10 countries with over 5 million contactless cards or devices in circulation for each of them. These are accepted in 74 countries around the world, including Estonia and Iceland, which have recently been added to Europe’s contactless map.

Merchants have also followed suit, with 2015 showing an impressive 72% increase in the number of contactless merchant locations compared to 2014. In fact, MasterCard estimates that MasterCard or Maestro contactless cards or devices can now be used at over 4 million merchant locations worldwide.

Chris Kangas, Head of Contactless Payments Europe at MasterCard commented: “The rise of contactless usage and acceptance is certainly encouraging, but so are the opportunities for merchants to capitalize on this trend. New research[i] has revealed that in Europe, about 48% of daily purchases are below €25, and therefore typically within the contactless tap & go limit (above €25 it is possible in most countries to tap and authenticate with PIN code). In the Netherlands and UK, this figure is even higher at 55% and 59% respectively. However, with so many transactions falling within the contactless tap & go band, and consumers proving their openness to using this technology, merchants are in the ideal position to take action and reap the benefits.”

Across Europe, there is already evidence of this. In Czech Republic, 77% (almost 4 in 5) of in-store transactions processed by MasterCard were contactless in 2015. In Poland, the figure was 55% (over half), 40% in Hungary (4 in 10), 38% in Slovakia (more than 1 in 3), 13% in Spain and 9% in the Netherlands (almost 1 in 10).

Issuers too can benefit from this onward trend in contactless. MasterCard data analysis shows that contactless capabilities and the added value this brings drives cards to top of wallet, generating higher spend. The increase in spend is not only generated from new tapped transactions, but also from a significant rise in total transactions.

Javier Perez, President MasterCard Europe, concluded: “Every day, our employees around the world are focused on making payments easier. We do this because behind every transaction is a person who benefits from a better buying experience. With contactless technology, consumers can enjoy a fast, safe and smart way to pay for everyday purchases with any MasterCard or Maestro account. Europeans are really embracing this, tapping for more of their MasterCard purchases than ever before, which in turn helps drive revenue for merchants and issuers.”

All data mentioned in this press release comes from the MasterCard Data Warehouse, unless stated otherwise.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

Media contacts

Corinne Raes This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +32 498 58 5237

 [i] Ipsos Research, 2015

New Banamex Wallet takes payments to the next level, as consumers are able to use their mobile phones to make payments at contactless-enabled terminals

Mexico City, February 16, 2016– Today Banamex and MasterCard unveiled the new Banamex Wallet, a new mobile application for Android smart phones, allowing consumers to pay using their mobile phone at contactless-enabled terminals.

Banamex, a pioneer in the implementation of Contactless technology since 2012, furthers innovation in payments with the launch of the wallet – which takes payments to the next level in Mexico. Payments using the wallet can be done without the use of cellular data given that a direct connection is established between the mobile phone and the terminal. Banamex has over 70.000 contactless terminals throughout the country.

The main benefits of Banamex Wallet are:

Mexico becomes the first market in which Citi and MasterCard, within the global digital payments initiative agreement, deploy a digital wallet leveraging HCE (Host Card Emulation) technology. Banamex is also the first Latin American bank to implement this type of Wallet, an effort which will be replicated in other markets.

The wallet features key MasterCard technologies including MasterCard Cloud-based Payments (MCBP), which digitizes card credentials securely and MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES). MDES adds an additional level of security through the use of tokenization. Tokenization is a process in which private consumer data is replaced by a unique identifier (a token) and which ultimately further protects payment data – making the solution safe, simple and smart.

“Through launches like this, we hope to demonstrate how Banamex is at the forefront of innovation and is positioning itself to be the digital bank of Mexico,” stated Edgardo del Rincón Gutiérrez, consumer banking director for Banamex. “Banamex plays a crucial role in Citi’s strategy, and we are optimistic about the growth and development in this market.”

Antonio Junco, President of MasterCard Mexico and Central America, adds “this is an important milestone for the payments industry in Mexico. Thanks to the valuable partnership between Citi and MasterCard, we are unveiling an innovative solution that enhances how we make payments in our day-to-day lives.”

HCE technology is available on mobile phones with NFC and Android 4.4 or above.

Banamex contact: Gerardo Gregoire | (55) 2262 6128

MasterCard contact: Beatriz Begne / Roberto Vila | (55) 5480 8031

About the Banamex Financial Group: The Banamex Financial Group is the leading financial group in Mexico. Following a universal banking strategy, the Group offers a variety of financial services for individuals or legal entities, including commercial and investment banking, insurance and investment mapping. Banamex, founded in 1884, has a large distribution network with over 1.540 branches, serving over 20 million clients, conducting 17,5 million transactions through its infrastructure composed of 7.100 ATMs, in addition to 108.000 Point of Sale Terminals (POST) operated by EVO Payments International and over 18.800 branches located all over the country.

About MasterCard: MasterCard (NYSE: MA) www.mastercard.com is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardLAC and in LinkedIn, join the discussion in our  blog and register to receive the latest news through our  engagement bureau.

Integrated Offering Enables Consumer Experience and Enhances Protection

Purchase, N.Y. – Feb. 17, 2016 – Building on decades of delivering security-focused innovations, MasterCard today announced plans to raise the bar on everyday peace of mind, creating global consistency across a series of controls and alerts offered to cardholders.

The features – which deliver greater convenience and real-time access to account information — are offered to help protect issuers, merchants and cardholders from fraud.

“Our cardholders want even greater control of their money, no matter where or how they are spending,” said Ajay Bhalla, president of Enterprise Security Solutions at MasterCard. “For 50 years, we’ve developed new technologies that balance the need for increased security with the desire for greater convenience in payments. As these benefits become everyday features, consumers will receive even more protection and value from the MasterCard in their wallet– physical or digital.”

Knowing Where You Are: Mobile Location Alerts
To reduce frustrations associated with potential declines when using their card outside of “normal” routines, MasterCard is making verification of the cardholder as easy as turning on your mobile phone. In partnership with Zumigo, MasterCard will offer a mobile app-based solution that delivers location alerts triggered by pre-set digital boundaries whenever cardholders travel domestically and internationally.

This adds to the company’s ongoing activities with Syniverse which leverages mobile network roaming data to verify the cardholder’s location.  Currently available for UK cardholders with phones through EE and other key mobile network operators, the program continues to expand to additional markets across the globe.

Seamless Service for Recurring Charges
Each payment card has an expiration date to help ensure the ability to update to the latest technologies and security protections. However, this has also meant that cardholders would need to update their account information for recurring subscriptions, monthly gym memberships and other recurring bill payments when the new card is issued. To eliminate this inconvenience – and the potential for an interruption in service – MasterCard will offer its Automatic Billing Updater (ABU) service globally to seamlessly provide the new account information.

Putting Cardholders In Control
Since 2007, MasterCard has offered the In Control platform, providing real-time account alerts via SMS or e-mail that help cardholders set spending limits and “turn on” or “turn off” their credit, debit and small business cards at certain merchants or in certain geographies.

Each issuing bank can choose the most appropriate features and benefits for their cardholders. The cardholders can then access In Control either through the bank’s mobile app and website or at a standalone site.

“Consumers who do not take advantage of security features like transaction monitoring, email alerts and credit freezes could see their stolen information being used for 75 percent longer by fraudsters,” said Al Pascual, senior vice president and head of fraud and security, Javelin Strategy & Research. “These tools will help detect fraud more quickly.”

Today’s news adds to the November 2014 global extension of the Zero Liability promise protecting consumer and small business cardholders from unauthorized transactions as of early second quarter 2016.

At MasterCard, safety comes first, as demonstrated by a long history of leading the industry through investment and innovation that delivers multiple layers of technology – like EMV, tokenization, biometrics, MasterCard Safety Net – to protect each and every transaction. As a result, MasterCard has become the safest, simplest and smartest way to pay.

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Partner Quotes
“Today, a large percentage of consumer transactions that are declined while traveling abroad are actually legitimate, creating a headache for consumers, retailers and for us as a bank,” said Phil Weston, head of mobile at MBNA. “The location alert technology solution can help improve travel experience for cardholders, enabling a safe and simple payment experience.”

“This partnership powers the banking apps that consumers already use to seamlessly verify transactions and improve card security,” said Zumigo founder and CEO Chirag Bakshi. “Issuing banks can offer these services to significantly reduce their costs associated with fraud claims, while at the same time delivering consumer satisfaction.”

“Up-to-date account information is critical to keep our records updated without inconveniencing our customers by interrupting their favorite TV shows and movies,” said Vickie Gonzalez, Director, Global Payments, Netflix. “In fact, customer attrition has been reduced significantly at the time of monthly renewal with automatic account updates through MasterCard ABU.  By working with MasterCard, we’ve been able to continually improve our processes and retain valuable business.”

Media contact

 Jane Khodos

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +1.914.327.0820

Madrid, 16 February 2016. The use and knowledge of mobile payments are growing among Spaniards year by year, according to the annual MasterCard Emerging Payments Barometer 2016. The study points out that 10.4% of digital users (those Spaniards between 24-55 years that have made online purchasing or contactless payments in the store in the last 6 months) use their mobile to pay at a physical store, through NFC technology. These payments, which include paying contactless (tap & go) with their mobile devices at the point of sale terminal (tap and go POS), have increased by 4.2 percentage points compared to last year. In addition, they are the most known (63%) and the best valued (34.2%).

This modality is followed by the mobile payment with operator charge (8.3%) and the mobile payment with apps (5.2%). Both of them are known by 32% of researched users.

According to Paloma Real, Business Development & Innovation Manager for Spain & Portugal at MasterCard, “the fact that 20.8% of digital users already use their mobiles to pay, at any of their modalities, demonstrates how this means of payment is increasingly augmenting its relevance in the Spaniards shopping habits. The important effort made by financial entities and merchants to ease this technology among consumers has allowed keeping these numbers that will probably continue increasing in 2016, turning into the kick-off year for mobile payments in the market. Now the challenge is to broaden the knowledge and to work for the convergent experience, regardless of the device you use to pay.”

Despite the mobile payments’ growing numbers, the digital wallets are the most popular and used mobile payment method by the Spaniards digital users. Concretely, 75% of surveyed consumers have ever used a wallet application to make their online purchases. The reasons to use them are security (56%), speed (25%) and convenience (24%).

Another payment method which is opening up is the P2P (person to person) payments in Spain, which is known by 48.8% and used by 9% of surveyed users. Consumers use them to make purchases, send money and share expenses, around 6 times a year and with around 45 euros average ticket in each transaction.

Biometric Payment Solutions, an attractive option for consumers

One of the key factors for the success of these new means of payments is guaranteeing consumers that the security levels in the physical transactions are maintained, or are even increased. The constant innovation made in this field has driven to the implementation of biometric security payment solutions that allow the individual identification with their fingertip, the facial recognition or even their heart rhythm.

These solutions are being well embraced by consumers, justifying they are secure, according to 64% of surveyed. In fact, 41.5% of the surveyed users would choose a biometric identification solution when paying using their mobile.

“Thanks to the constant developments made in the payments industry, any connected device is a payment device. Hence, we have worked to translate security standards and authentication of physical world to the digital space to allow a more secure payment experience, through the biometric authentication”, Paloma Real asserts.

About the study

The study has been developed by Inmark Europe, leading company in financial sector market investigations, through more than 1,200 interviews to individuals of 24-55 years, economically active (with regular incomes), living in Spain, that have made online purchases or contactless payments in a physical store the last six months.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

Media contact:

Cristina Feliu

Head of Communications, Western Europe, MasterCard

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile phone: +34 608249244