Press Releases

Mastercard enlists NZ hip hop royalty King Kapisi to celebrate the remarkable milestone for small businesses in Aotearoa for being in business for 10 years.

Mastercard and the Research Institute of World Tourism Alliance (WTA) have recently announced a new strategic collaboration at the 2023 annual meeting of WTA, to promote sustainable and inclusive development of the tourism industry.

Mastercard and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, have launched a new FlexiMasters program, the NTU-Mastercard FlexiMasters in Cybersecurity & Digital Trust, to strengthen expertise in combating the growing threat of cybercrime.

Mastercard NUCC Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., has received formal approval from the People’s Bank of China and the National Administration of Financial Regulation to commence domestic bankcard clearing activity in China, allowing Mastercard cardholders in China to soon enjoy seamless payment experiences at home and abroad.

Mastercard partners with NEC to bring the Biometric Checkout Program to the Asia Pacific region, expanding reach across the globe. Under which, NEC’s face recognition and liveness verification technology, and Mastercard’s payment enablement and optimized user experience to drive global scale.

Mastercard is supporting Australia's fintech industry with a new program, launched in collaboration with FD Global Connections, to help local innovators strengthen their governance and risk management practices.

Mastercard today announced that it has completed the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s e-HKD Pilot Programme, which demonstrated the efficacy of the Mastercard Multi-Token Network solution to settle Web3 transactions involving decentralized applications and digital assets, such as NFTs.

A new study commissioned by Mastercard has unveiled the eye-opening scope of cyberattacks among Australia’s small business leaders. Mastercard partnered with a teenage ethical hacker to create 'Cyber secure in 60 seconds,' a ten-part content series containing simple, low cost and actionable insights for small business.

Mastercard and Norwegian fintech company EedenBull have announced the launch of a cards and spend management platform, Q Business, designed specifically to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to process their spending and payments more efficiently

As a global technology company in payments, Mastercard expands its partnership with Agoda, a digital travel platform headquartered in Singapore to enhance business-to-business payments in the travel and tourism industry

Mastercard has partnered with Aurionpro Transit, a leading global provider of smart ticketing and payment systems, to provide commuters with a next-generation contactless payment method for public transport

Mastercard’s participation in the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot project explored potential use cases for a CBDC in Australia

DUAPAY, developed by Fintech Pacific in partnership with Mastercard and ygap, and with support from the Australian Government, welcomes more local merchants into the digital economy.

Mastercard partners with PWR to create exclusive masterclasses with global gaming icons, Lachlan Power and Kathleen 'Loserfruit' Belsten.

Mastercard Strive Indonesia, an initiative that aims to empower small businesses to succeed in the digital economy, announces the onboarding of nine new partners that will significantly expand the program's reach.

Nuvei and Mastercard today announced that they will enable near instantaneous payout capabilities for online trading platforms and investors in the Asia Pacific region via Mastercard Send™.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced an exciting association, with Mastercard becoming a Global Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to be held in India between 5 October and 19 November 2023. 

Mastercard extends its partnership with Collinson to provide premium airport lounge access to Mastercard Trust Club World Card and World Elite Card cardholders in the event of a delayed flight through Mastercard Flight Delay Pass.

By linking any Mastercard card to WeChat (Weixin in Mandarin Chinese) Pay, overseas visitors will have access to tens of millions of local merchants, while SMEs are set to benefit from a bigger pool of international buyers.

Refreshed innovation lab in Singapore inspires purposeful innovation through immersive, experiential demos, drives new business ideas, and encourages co-creation with clients and partners.

Mastercard and DTS Corporation have announced a new strategic partnership to deliver cybersecurity solutions to enhance digital fraud detection solutions for Japan.

Mastercard has partnered with Vodafone Fiji to provide a new way of paying in-store and online, both at home and abroad, with the launch of M-PaiSA Mastercard. This initiative will give hundreds of thousands of Fijians access to digital payments through Mastercard's global payment network.

With Hong Kong's economic revival in full swing, Mastercard and distinguished local F&B group LUBUDS, today announced the launch of LUMA, a new restaurant occupying a prime location at 1881 Heritage, a historical landmark that has been transformed into a luxury lifestyle hub in the vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui district.

Mastercard today announced Mastercard Strive Malaysia to support Malaysia’s growth and digitalization priorities. In collaboration with The Asia Foundation, the program aims to digitalize and support the growth of 100,000 micro-and small enterprises (MSEs), focusing on women-owned and women-led businesses.

With the resumption of travel and tourism to China in full swing, Mastercard and Alipay today announced the launch of a new payments option that provides international arrivals to China with another simple and secure way to go cashless when visiting the country.

Mastercard today announced that Westpac will become the first issuer of Mastercard’s Touch Card™ in Australia, a card design featuring simple yet distinct notches to help blind and partially sighted people identify their credit, debit and prepaid cards.

New insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute reveal that consumers are taking advantage of a more traditional travel ecosystem in 2023, prioritizing leisure travel and pioneering new corridors around the world.

With merchants estimated to suffer more than US$48 billion in eCommerce fraud globally in 2023 – 22% of that in Asia – Mastercard today announced the expansion of its partnership with Vesta, the global leader in payment fraud protection.

Mastercard has partnered with Maldives Transport & Contracting Company (MTCC) and Bank of Maldives (BML) to roll out the first multi-model, open loop transit payment and digital ticketing system in South Asia.

Mastercard today hosted Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Digital, for the opening of its new office and launch of its Data & Services (D&S) Hub in Kuala Lumpur, which will serve clients across the Asia Pacific region with a suite of offerings beyond transactions.

Wakayama Prefecture, The Kiyo Bank, Ltd., The Kiyo Card DC Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd., and Mastercard have agreed to jointly discuss and develop potential solutions with the aim of upgrading the spending process for municipal goods and services procurement, utility bills, and business trips by optimizing payment methods with a view to introducing card programs.

Mastercard announced it is accelerating efforts to remove first–use, PVC plastics from payment cards on its network by 2028. This initiative further reinforces the company’s sustainability commitments and scales the accessibility of more sustainable card offerings for consumers seeking a way to reduce the environmental impact of their wallet.

Music fans can now get their hands on the limited release Mastercard Music Pass NFT, which unlocks access to exclusive content and experiences from the Mastercard Artist Accelerator. The unique program will prepare five emerging musical artists from around the world with the tools and skills to harness Web3 technologies to reimagine their creative processes and grow their careers in the digital economy.

Mastercard, in collaboration with the Indonesian National Council for Financial Inclusion (DNKI) and Mercy Corps Indonesia, launched Mastercard Strive Indonesia, a three-year initiative that aims to empower 300,000 Indonesian small businesses to succeed in the digital economy.

LUBUDS and Mastercard announced a new partnership that will see the two companies co-creating tantalizing offerings for diners. Cardholders will enjoy priceless experiences and exclusive privileges at restaurants across Hong Kong.

Mastercard is conducting a pilot with Service NSW and Tipple to allow consumers to verify their age securely and seamlessly in the digital and physical world.

Checkout.com and Mastercard announced that they will make Mastercard Send™ available to more Checkout.com customers in the Asia Pacific region, starting in Australia and Hong Kong SAR later this year.

Mastercard announced an industry-leading partnership with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to build a Cyber Innovation Hub. The facility aims to build a cyber-ready workforce in Malaysia, expanding industry expertise while strengthening the country’s cyber resilience capabilities to future proof its digital economy.

Mastercard and end-to-end fraud protection platform Vesta have partnered to deliver state-of-the art fraud management solutions for merchants in Asia Pacific. The partnership will involve the integration of Mastercard’s Cyber & Intelligence (C&I) products and solutions into Vesta’s transaction guarantee platform, and will allow merchants to eliminate online fraud and grow their business.

Mastercard has been approved as an unrestricted Accredited Data Recipient (ADR) by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), under the Consumer Data Right (CDR). The accreditation will enable Mastercard to unlock the potential of open banking for more Australian businesses and consumers, as it has in the U.S. and Europe.

Web3 tech innovator, Immersve has partnered with Mastercard to give consumers the ability to use cryptocurrency directly from their web3 wallet to make digital, physical or even metaverse purchases, wherever Mastercard is accepted. 

General Incorporated Foundation KANSAI Tourism Bureau and Mastercard have agreed to form an alliance to expand and promote tourism in the Kansai region. This includes working towards promoting tourism in relation to the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and drive a shift to a digital economy.

New research from Mastercard reveals an organization’s performance in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), security and sustainability play a critical role in consumer purchasing decisions.

New research commissioned by Mastercard in partnership with Blind Sports Australia (BSA) revealed seven in ten Australians agree the sports industry has made progress to be more diverse, however there is still work to be done to ensure everyone feels like they belong.

ATX Fintech Holding Sdn. Bhd. (ATX) announced a partnership with Mastercard to launch Mastercard® Bill Pay, a new bill management tool that combines electronic bill presentment and payment in one place. The platform transforms the way bills are presented and makes the payments experience secure, more efficient and seamless.

Mastercard today announced the appointment of Gautam Aggarwal as Division President for South Asia & Country Corporate Officer, India, effective January 1. With his new remit, Gautam will oversee all of Mastercard’s activities across South Asia and India, including product management, engagements with customers and regulators, marketing and more.

Mastercard announced an industry-leading partnership with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore to launch the Mastercard-NTU Joint Lab. The unique program aims to expand the region’s cybersecurity ecosystem, while also strengthening Singapore’s position as a global cybersecurity leader.

To meet growing consumer preference for more payment options, Mastercard launched Google Wallet in Malaysia. Mastercard cardholders from CIMB Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Bank Berhad can now save their credit and debit cards within Google Wallet.

Mastercard announced that it would expand its Farm Pass digital platform across the Asia Pacific region. The firm is on track to connect 30 million people globally, including 15 million in Asia Pacific, with its Community Pass services, of which Farm Pass is a part, over the next five years.

The Mastercard Economics Institute’s “Shifting Wallets” report looks at how consumers across the world are holding tight to habits that offer convenience, experience or both. Asia Pacific has seen a sharp recovery in outbound travel following the re-opening of borders, despite the growing cost of air travel.

Mastercard and Grab today announced a regional program to digitally upskill gig economy workers and small businesses in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The collaboration is part of Strive Community, a global philanthropic initiative developed by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and Caribou Digital.

Mastercard today announced its collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to broaden its strategic outreach to Indian audiences. During this association, Mastercard will be the title sponsor for all international matches (both women’s and men’s) held on home ground, domestic cricket matches like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy organized by the BCCI, and also all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches held in India.

Mastercard’s second annual New Payments Index revealed consumers in the Asia Pacific region remain among the most enthusiastic adopters of digital payments in the world, and the need for a greater focus on building trust in new technologies amidst continued global uncertainty.

Mastercard cardholders from Ambank, Maybank and Standard Chartered bank in Malaysia can now make payments using Apple Pay. Malaysia is the second country in Southeast Asia to support Apple Pay.

Mastercard has successfully secured accreditation under the Australian Government’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework as an identity provider for identity proofing level 1+, identity exchange and credential provider. It is the first private sector organization or entity to be accredited for more than two roles since the framework’s inception.

To support the long-awaited travel recovery, Mastercard expanded its Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services platform with new partnerships that focus on seamless travel experiences and priceless moments for cardholders, including WhatsApp servicing, Covid alerts and perks like lounge access when flights are delayed.

Mastercard unveiled its first ever music album titled Priceless® at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. The album, available first on Spotify and then other streaming platforms, features 10 songs by 10 artists from around the globe. Each song incorporates the recognizable melody of Mastercard’s brand sound.

Mastercard announced the approval of Marqeta, the global modern card issuing platform, as one of the first companies to join its Network Enablement Partner (NEP) program in the Asia Pacific region.

New research from the Mastercard Economics Institute Travel 2022: Trends & Transitions report reveals that for the first time since the pandemic, global leisure and business flight bookings surpassed pre-pandemic levels, while spending on cruise lines, buses and trains saw sharp improvements this year, signaling a key milestone in the global travel recovery.

Mastercard announced the launch of Mastercard Gamer Xchange (MGX), a first-of-its-kind, turnkey solution that helps consumers convert their unspent rewards points into gaming currency across nearly 4,000 of the world’s most popular gaming titles.

The launch of the new Pay by Account-enabled product sees EZ-Link expand to the open payment ecosystem, empowering users with greater digital payments capabilities.

Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition, which now includes more than 100 global banks, fintechs and merchants, has announced the expansion of its reforestation work to include 15 new sites around the world. In Asia Pacific, new projects are being launched in Cambodia, China, India, and the Philippines while planting continues in Australia.

To meet growing consumer demand for more flexible payment options, Mastercard and Pine Labs have partnered to launch Mastercard Installments with Pine Labs. The new program will offer Filipino credit cardholders the flexibility to pay in interest-free monthly installments with their enrolled bank’s credit card anywhere they see the Pay Later identifier.

Mastercard announced the appointment of Julie Nestor as Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing & Communications, Asia Pacific, based out of Singapore.

Mastercard announced a 5-year global partnership with Zeta to launch credit cards with issuers worldwide on Zeta’s modern, cloud-native, and fully API-ready credit processing stack.

Mastercard, DBS Bank and Pine Labs have partnered to launch ‘Mastercard Installments with Pine Labs’ - a new program that allows DBS/POSB credit cardholders to pay via interest-free installments at merchants with the ‘Pay Later’ identifier.

Bank of Mongolia (BoM), with the help of Mastercard, recently launched its M/Chip ₮-Cards in December 2021. The symbol of the tugrik, the national currency of Mongolia, is integrated into the ₮-Cards scheme through Mastercard M/Chip technology, enabling it to better play its vital role as the main payment instrument of the Mongolian national economy.

Mastercard cardholders can now pay for their trips on the Bangkok MRT by simply tapping their contactless Mastercard Credit and Prepaid cards at the station gate, eliminating the need to handle cash, buy tickets, and top up their MRT cards.

To support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating this journey, Mastercard Academy has launched ‘The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey’ – a first-of-its kind digital education platform that brings together a range of world-class academic and business resources to help small businesses learn and thrive.

New research from Mastercard reveals that implementing sustainable business practices is considered by many business leaders to be the next significant challenge faced by Australian organizations in the years ahead, with 76% identifying sustainability as critical for success in their industry.

Mastercard announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wakayama Prefecture, leveraging its global standard payment network to support the growth of the tourism sector and accelerate the digital transformation and cashless transaction infrastructure for small and medium businesses in the prefecture.

Mastercard announced today that Safdar Khan has been named Division President for Southeast Asia. This appointment is an expansion of his former role as Division President, Southeast Asia Emerging Markets.

Ahead of the pandemic’s second year milestone, the Mastercard Economics Institute released Economy 2022, a global outlook for the coming year. Based on critical trends, the report reveals how five fundamental factors — savings and spending, supply chains, digital acceleration, travel, and a growing list of economic risks — will continue to shape the global economy.

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) announced a series of changes in the leadership of its international operations that will help solidify the company’s delivery against strategic priorities outlined at its recent investment community meeting. All appointments are effective January 1, 2022. Gilberto Caldart, currently president of the company’s International Markets, will take on a new role as vice chair of Senior Client Partnerships and Relationships. Raghu Malhotra and Ling Hai will lead Mastercard’s International Markets as co-presidents.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Mastercard have jointly launched a range of 16 new and exclusively-curated “Priceless Experiences” including sailcations, staycations, movie experiences, local adventures, and gin creation workshops for locals ahead of upcoming holiday season. The experiences are part of their new domestic marketing campaign, to encourage locals to continue exploring the city and rekindle connections with their loved ones.

Mastercard today announced the next evolution of the payments model with the launch of a new commercial card offering designed specifically for small and medium enterprises. Called Mastercard Installments Card for Business, it enables financial institutions to provide small businesses with a similar payment product: the first-of-its-kind, network-based, open-loop installments solution to be made available anywhere in the world.

In partnership with Mastercard, three leading cryptocurrency service providers in Asia Pacific will be launching crypto-funded Mastercard payment cards. The trio of partnerships with Amber, Bitkub and CoinJar make it easier for consumers and corporates to spend cryptocurrency on physical or digital Mastercard payment cards.

Mastercard has been actively expanding its platform capabilities through the Mastercard Developers portfolio, adding a multitude of differentiated services to power new ways to pay, enhance the customer experience and infuse trust across the payments ecosystem.

Mastercard Track™ Business Payment Service and new partnership with Demica enables easier access to flexible working capital for buyers and suppliers. New offering supports Mastercard’s expansion of its Track BPS network around the world with new partnerships solidified in North America, Middle East & Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

Mastercard and Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp, today announced a regional partnership to advance digital and financial inclusion in Southeast Asia (SEA).

To shed light on the impact the global health crisis – and ongoing recovery – has had on small businesses globally, Mastercard released its latest report: Recovery Insights: Small Business Reset.

Mastercard has today unveiled World Rugby’s Sevens player of the Decade, Portia Woodman, as its latest Global Brand Ambassador.

Mastercard Installments BNPL program to come to market in the U.S., Australia and the UK; Enables consumers to access this increasingly popular form of payment across its vast global acceptance network

Mastercard and the Australian Government’s Digital Transformation Agency will also explore how ID, Mastercard’s digital identity service, can support age verification in Australia.

Mastercard and partner Xiaomi, the world’s No.1 wearable band brand, unveiled an updated version of its Mi Smart Band 6, which spotlights the enablement of contactless payment. The new device now offers a fast, secure, and convenient way to pay for any number of purchases.

Developed in partnership with the Australian Government, ygap and Fintech Pacific, the technology puts women-led MSMEs at the forefront of Fiji’s digital transformation

The Pandemic Has Driven People to Redefine their Expectations of Experiences, Demanding Long-Lasting Impact

From creating a marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to enabling new sustainable digital assets, seven global crypto and digital assets startups join Mastercard’s award-winning Start Path program to access partnership opportunities, insights and tools to grow

As the COVID-19 pandemic affects economies and consumer behavior, Mastercard remains committed to getting micro and small enterprises online and helping them continue their business operations amid the crisis.

Outlines progress towards an inclusive, sustainable future for people and the planet

The Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mastercard to join the company’s City Possible™ program. Connecting with a network of more than 300 member and candidate cities around the world, the partnership aims to drive greater infrastructural efficiencies, economic growth, digital and financial inclusion in the Subic-Clark corridor.

The initiative aligns with the government’s goal to build a future-ready public infrastructure with connectivity, productivity, sustainability and safety.

Mastercard today announced a strategic equity investment in Instamojo, India’s largest full-stack digital solutions provider for MSMEs. The partnership will help India’s MSMEs to digitize and scale up their businesses through a suite of value-added services provided by Instamojo.

Mastercard today announced the appointment of Nikhil Sahni as its new Division President, South Asia & Country Corporate Officer, India, taking over from Porush Singh. Porush Singh will be relocating to Singapore and assuming a new role within the company.

GO-NET, in collaboration with Mastercard, studied both the benefits that IoT payments can bring to consumers and the potential challenges that lie ahead in processing those payments.

According to the Mastercard New Payments Index: The Australia Forecast Report, almost three-quarters (71%) of Aussies surveyed said they now have access to more ways to pay than they did at this time last year.

94% of consumers in APAC are considering using emerging payment methods this year. APAC enthusiasm for QR codes, digital wallets and cryptocurrencies exceeds global averages

Over half (51%) of AU-NZ organisations are placing innovation as high priority with 47% increasing innovation budgets, compared with 42% globally. Seventy-five percent of AU-NZ executives view customer insight as a vehicle for innovation, tracking with their global peers. AU-NZ organisations lag global peers in critical areas; 55% measure impact of innovation on business performance, versus 66% of globally.

QR on Card makes payments more flexible and safer and is another solution to drive easy acceptance of digital payments for SMEs in India

Mastercard is strengthening its global Digital First program across Asia Pacific with a range of innovative partners to deliver even more seamless and secure digital payment options than consumers expect as they shop and bank online more than ever before.

Pay by Bank App will enable consumers to make payments, securely and directly from the Bank’s mobile banking app.

Focusing on digital convenience and security, Mastercard is delivering more perks in more markets for premium cardholders in the Asia Pacific region with a comprehensive online portal, hassle-free e-commerce insurance and enhanced benefits.