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A leading payments industry news source for more than 17 years. Glenbrook curates the news and keeps you abreast of the important daily headlines in payments.
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March 6, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Conducts First Live Agentic Transaction in Malaysia with CIMB, Maybank and RHB Pilot
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced the completion of a pilot that delivered its first authenticated agentic transactions in Malaysia, marking a major step forward for trusted AI‑powered commerce. The pilot was conducted with CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, Malayan Banking Berhad and RHB Banking Group using Mastercard Agent Pay and was initiated by AI agents in a controlled pilot environment, ensuring security, transparency and full consumer control. The pilot demonstrated how AI can support consumers to complete everyday tasks — such as transportation — securely and seamlessly."
March 5, 2026
On the web
Santander and Mastercard Complete Europe’s First Live End-To-End Payment Executed by an AI Agent
Santander
"Banco Santander and Mastercard announced the successful completion of Europe’s first live end-to-end payment executed by an artificial intelligence (AI) agent, representing the first agentic payment carried out within a regulated banking framework and marking a significant milestone in the application of AI systems capable of initiating and completing transactions on behalf of customers. Santander carried out the transaction in a controlled environment using Mastercard Agent Pay."
March 3, 2026
On the web
SoFi and Mastercard Partner to Enable SoFiUSD Settlement Across Mastercard’s Global Payments Network
Mastercard
"SoFi’s fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin will support settlement across the Mastercard network, including for SoFi Bank, N.A. Galileo, SoFi’s technology platform, will be among the first to offer its clients and their issuing banks the choice to settle transactions using SoFiUSD. The Mastercard Multi-Token Network will look to support SoFiUSD, help expand interoperability between digital assets and traditional forms of money"
March 2, 2026
On the web
How Payments Fraud Is Growing in Scale and Sophistication. What Companies Can Do to Fight Back
Mastercard
"Fraud that targets payments is growing more complex and sophisticated. The criminal use of AI and the increasing standardization and reproduction of malware and other technologies: They act like a digital equivalent of old-fashioned burglary tool. For example, the number of stolen credit card records accessible for sale dropped by almost 20% in 2025 from the year before. However, the increasing sophistication and scale of attacks mean that nefarious players can make ever better use of what they can access."
February 24, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Move Set to Accelerate Banks’ Digital Payment Services
Banking Exchange
"Ericsson and Mastercard have announced a collaboration aimed at transforming how money moves globally, with implications for banks and fintechs. By integrating Ericsson’s Fintech Platform with Mastercard Move, which is Mastercard’s portfolio of money movement solutions, the partnership seeks to simplify digital wallet expansion, speed up new payment service launches, and reach underbanked populations."
February 18, 2026
On the web
Ericsson and Mastercard Enhance Global Digital Money Movement and Accelerate Digital Financial Inclusion
Mastercard
"Ericsson and Mastercard announced a collaboration to reshape how money moves across the world. By integrating the Ericsson Fintech Platform (Mobile Financial Services) with Mastercard Move, Mastercard’s portfolio of money movement solutions, the collaboration will empower telecom service providers, banks and fintechs to expand digital wallet capabilities, launch new payment services and reach unbanked or underbanked communities."
February 6, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Collaborates With Cyber Security Council to Safeguard Uae’s Digital Ecosystem
Mastercard
"Mastercard has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) to strengthen trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem. Through this collaboration, both entities will work together to advance cybersecurity resilience by sharing global best practices and supporting the development of forward‑looking cybersecurity policies. The two entities are also launching a joint report on the current state of the country’s cybersecurity landscape."
February 4, 2026
On the web
Mastercard Launches Fleet: Next Gen to Streamline Fleet Payments in Apac
Asian Banking & Finance
"Mastercard has launched Mastercard Fleet: Next Gen, a portfolio of new solutions for car fleet management and logistics operations. It offers global acceptance across millions of locations, including fuel, electric vehicle (EV) charging, maintenance, tolling, and ancillary fleet speed, according to a press release on 4 February 2026. Mastercard promises smarter authorisation controls and spend policies based on vehicle, driver, merchant categories, location, time, and amount."
January 27, 2026
Top Post
Mastercard Unveils Major AI Shopping Change Coming for CBA, Westpac Customers: ‘Australia’s First' Transaction
Yahoo Finance
"Global payments giant Mastercard announced it will expand its agentic payments technology further in Australia with the completion of Australia’s first authenticated agentic transactions, which are transactions completed by an 'AI agent', using Commonwealth Bank and Westpac cards. Mastercard’s ‘Agent Pay’ technology, which was launched in the US last year, allows shoppers to ask an AI agent to search, find and buy items for them."
On the web
Mastercard Launches Agent Suite to Ready Enterprises for a New Era
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced a suite of services to help customers integrate agentic AI into their operations and accelerate toward this next frontier. Mastercard Agent Suite will combine technical support with customizable AI agents. Customers will be able to build, test, and deploy fit-for-purpose agents from Mastercard Agent Suite."
January 26, 2026
Top Post
Mastercard Launches Best-In-Class ‘Bin Sponsor Plus’ Programme to Support Next Generation of U.K. Fintechs
Mastercard
"Mastercard is introducing a new accreditation programme for BIN sponsors – established financial institutions which support Fintechs and any business interested in getting into payments by helping them to launch card programmes quickly and efficiently. The BIN Sponsor Plus programme is the first of its kind, intended to accelerate the growth of UK Fintechs and businesses entering the payments space by providing them with access to a vetted list of trusted partners and guidance on scaling efficiently. BIN Sponsorship provides a route to market without the time and investment associated with becoming an issuer."
January 20, 2026
On the web
The New Rules of the Road for Agentic Commerce
Mastercard
"Mastercard joined forces with Google on its Universal Commerce Protocol, an open protocol that enables interoperability between AI agents and merchants. They continue to collaborate across the value chain, including Google’s Agent Payments Protocol and Agent2Agent Protocol, OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol, and more to ensure these platforms meet the same standards for clear user intent, secure credentials and verifiable agent identity."
January 9, 2026
Top Post
Inside Agentic Commerce: A New Way to Transact Raises New Questions
Mastercard
"As AI agents shop and pay on behalf of consumers, the payments ecosystem is tackling challenges around intent, fraud prevention and accountability."
January 7, 2026
On the web
Mastercard: The Stories That Defined 2025: Stablecoins, Security and Speed
Mastercard
"This year, the Mastercard Newsroom’s most-read stories didn’t just chronicle breakthroughs. They captured the tension between innovation and uncertainty, as new payment models, fast-moving technology and regulatory shifts reshape how we think about trust, security and the future of money, considering not just what’s changing, but why it matters."
December 19, 2025
Top Post
Visa and Mastercard to Pay $167.5m to Settle Lawsuit Over ATM Fees
The Guaradian
"Visa and Mastercard have agreed to pay a combined $167.5m to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing them of conspiring to keep ATM access fees artificially high. The proposed settlement was filed on Thursday in the federal district court in Washington and requires a judge’s approval. The accord would pay potentially millions of ATM users who were charged an unreimbursed access fee to withdraw cash from independent, non-bank ATMs. Visa would contribute about $88.8m and Mastercard about $78.7m to a settlement fund. The money would be distributed to eligible customers with qualifying ATM transactions made since October 2007."
On the web
Pay.UK and Vocalink Extend Contracts for UK Payments Backbone
Fintech Global
"Pay.UK and Vocalink, a Mastercard company, have agreed to multi-year extensions to their existing infrastructure contracts, a move designed to safeguard the continuity of the UK’s core interbank payment systems well into the early 2030s."
December 17, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard Boosts Africa Acceptance Network by 45% in 2025, Accelerating the Continent’s Digital Economy
Mastercard
"Mastercard has grown its acceptance network across Africa by 45 per cent in 2025 – a major milestone that brings millions more consumers and small businesses into the continent’s fast-expanding digital economy. This accelerated progress underscores the strong advancement of digital payments, technology, and innovation in Africa—a transformation that traditionally would have taken several years to accomplish."
December 16, 2025
On the web
Mastercard and LoanPro Announce Partnership to Modernize Lending
Mastercard
"Mastercard and LoanPro today announced a new strategic partnership to launch Loan on Card, a solution designed to enable lenders to deliver loans to approved consumer and small business borrowers through virtual and physical card-based experiences. Set to launch in 2026, Loan on Card will provide borrowers with instant access to funds that can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted."
December 12, 2025
On the web
Mastercard Unveils Open Finance Business Solutions in Australia to Power Small Business Growth Through Secure Real-Time Data Sharing
Mastercard
"Mastercard announced the launch of Open Finance Business Solutions, a suite of tools that helps small and medium-sized enterprises harness real-time financial data to work smarter, save time and drive sustainable growth. The launch comes as Australia sharpens its focus on productivity and smarter data sharing, with the Productivity Commission estimating that a mature data-sharing regime could unlock up to $10 billion in annual gains."
December 8, 2025
On the web
TenPay Global and Mastercard Collaborate to Enable Fast and Secure Remittances to Weixin Pay
Mastercard
"TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform, and Mastercard Move, Mastercard’s money movement business, have announced a collaboration to facilitate fast, secure and transparent digital remittances directly to Weixin Pay, a leading mobile payment service within the Weixin ecosystem in China. Through Mastercard Move, eligible senders around the world will be able to send salaries and family support directly to Weixin Pay Wallet Balance or linked bank cards in Weixin Pay."
December 3, 2025
On the web
Six Payment Trends for 2026
Mastercard
"If there’s a topline trend to 2026, it’s how payments are evolving, becoming more personalized, predictive and seamlessly interoperable between traditional and new payment platforms: Top trends: securing agentic commerce; connecting crypto to fiat commerce; doubling down on digital identity; redefining consumption for the circular age; personalizing payments, benefits and risk; enabling the instant economy for everyone, everywhere."
December 1, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard SpendingPulse: US Black Friday Retail Sales up +4.1% YoY as Holiday Momentum Builds
Mastercard
"According to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse™, U.S. retail sales excluding autos were up +4.1% on Black Friday, November 28 compared to Black Friday 2024. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales, representing all payment types, and is not adjusted for inflation."
November 24, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard Unveils New Open-Loop Mobility Product
Fintech Global
"Mastercard has reinforced its position at the forefront of mobility innovation with the launch of its enhanced open-loop transit solution. The company’s open-loop transit solution allows riders to tap into public transport systems using existing Mastercard debit or credit cards, as well as digital wallets on mobile phones or wearables. This removes the need for dedicated travel cards, physical top-ups or supplementary ticketing systems, enabling seamless journeys across metros, buses, trains, trams and ferries."
November 20, 2025
On the web
Mastercard’s 2030 Vision Builds an Intelligent Future for Payments
The Asian Banker
"At the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Sandeep Malhotra, executive vice president of core payments for Asia Pacific at Mastercard, outlines how the firm is reshaping regional payments infrastructure through tokenisation, interoperability and AI‑ready systems amid accelerating digital transformation."
November 19, 2025
On the web
Mastercard Brings Agentic Payments to Life with Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE
Mastercard
"In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping how people shop, pay, and connect, Mastercard is introducing Agent Pay in the UAE, and today marked its first transaction outside the US. As part of this pilot phase in the UAE, Mastercard is collaborating with Majid Al Futtaim, a leader in shopping malls, communities, retail, and leisure across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and with fintech Dataiera."
November 13, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard and Thunes Bring Stablecoin Payouts to the Mainstream
Mastercard
"Mastercard and Thunes have teamed up to accelerate global money movement for banks, payment service providers and end-users by expanding stablecoin wallet payout capabilities. Through this strategic collaboration, announced at the Singapore Fintech Festival , Mastercard Move will facilitate near real-time payouts to stablecoin wallets via Thunes’ Direct Global Network, harnessing the speed, liquidity, and 24/7 availability of regulated stablecoins."
November 12, 2025
On the web
Mastercard Champions Password-Free, Number-Free Checkout Across Asia Pacific by 2030
Mastercard
"At the Singapore FinTech Festival, Mastercard announced its ambition to make online shopping across Asia Pacific password-free and number-free by 2030. While more than a third of Mastercard transactions worldwide are already tokenized, achieving that vision in the world’s largest and fastest-growing e-commerce market — projected to exceed USD 7 trillion by 2030[1] — will require collective action. Mastercard is rallying banks, merchants, digital wallets, and technology partners to enable secure, tokenized payments powered by biometric authentication. This eliminates manual card entry and static passwords, making checkout faster and safer for consumers."
November 10, 2025
On the wires
Visa and Mastercard Near Settlement With Merchants, Would Lower Fees, WSJ Reports
Reuters-WSJ
"U.S. payment firms Visa and Mastercard nearing a settlement with merchants by lowering fees stores pay and giving them more power to reject certain credit cards, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with matter. Visa and Mastercard would trim interchange fees, typically 2% to 2.5% per transaction, by an average of about a tenth of a percentage point over several years, the Journal reported citing sources. The companies would also ease rules that currently require merchants accepting one network credit card type to accept all of them."
November 6, 2025
Top Post
Mastercard, Ripple and Gemini Test Card Payments on XRP Ledger
Yahoo Finance
"Mastercard has joined forces with Ripple and Gemini to test a new way to settle credit card transactions using the RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. The plan would connect Gemini’s credit card, which is issued through WebBank, to a blockchain-based system where settlement happens using RLUSD instead of the usual behind-the-scenes bank transfers. The project is expected to roll out in the coming months, once it clears regulatory reviews and participating partners are officially onboarded."
October 30, 2025
On the web
Real-Time Payments Systems: A Force for Transformation
OMFIF
"A vibrant, safe and innovative RTP ecosystem depends on conditions that are co-created by the public and private sectors. Success is defined by three core imperatives: security, interoperability and digital extensibility. A new report published by OMFIF and Mastercard, Future-proofing the architecture of real-time payments, finds that these three dimensions must be advanced in parallel to realise the promise of safe, inclusive and future-ready payments ecosystems that enable broad participation across stakeholders."