Mastercard Software Helps Companies Launch Custom Digital Wallets

Mastercard has introduced a set of software tools and services designed to make it easier for companies to create digital wallet capabilities on both iOS and Android and add contactless payments to their apps.

The new Mastercard Wallet Services is designed for banks, FinTechs, merchants and digital platforms. It is already being used by several Mastercard partner banks to develop new digital wallet features that could reach consumers by the end of the year, the company said in a Wednesday (July 15) blog post.

“New digital wallets could provide more choice for consumers, as companies all over the world will be able to offer new benefits, rewards, discounts, points or features to encourage users to start using their wallets,” Mastercard Chief Digital Officer Pablo Fourez said in the post. “Those players could also benefit by building stronger connections and engagement with their user bases.”

Apple’s decision in 2024 to begin opening access to the near-field communication (NFC) capabilities that power its mobile payments has created new possibilities for banks to add digital wallet features to their mobile banking apps across iOS and Android, according to the post.

Those possibilities led Mastercard to develop Mastercard Wallet Services, per the post.

“While consumer adoption of alternative wallets will take time, expanded platform access gives banks and FinTechs new opportunities to innovate,” Fourez said. “Ultimately, consumers could be the biggest winners of these changes, gaining access to a broader range of digital wallet experiences, rewards, value-added services and payment options offered through the apps they already use every day.”

PYMNTS reported in August 2024 that in the wake of an agreement between Apple and the European Commission to allow access to NFC technology on iPhones, Apple announced that it was giving developers access to the technology and that starting with iOS 18.1, they would be able to offer NFC contactless transactions using the Secure Element from within their own apps on iPhone.

PYMNTS reported at the time that this move could turbocharge the momentum of digital wallets and allow the in-app contactless features to be deployed across a variety of uses cases, from transit to merchant loyalty and rewards programs.

The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Digital Wallets Beyond Transactions: Global In-Depth Report“ found that digital wallets are used for payments, identification and other purposes.