Perspectives

Stories from around the world of Mastercard

Discover how our people and technology are connecting everyone to Priceless possibilities.

Innovation
Reporting live from the track! Inside the Mastercard and McLaren Racing partnership launch

The debut at the Las Vegas Grand Pix will kick off a fleet of fan-focused experiences, further fueling passion for the fast-growing sport.

Sustainability
Rewarding behavior: Moving more sustainable grocery picks up the food chain

U.K.-based Reewild offers an AI-powered app with smart grocery shopping features, carbon tracking, and an eco-rewards system.

Sustainability
Talking trash: How one Danish city is cleaning up, cup by cup

Aarhus is piloting a first-of-its-kind deposit return program for reusable drink cups, where people get their deposit returned with a tap: “Our working vision is a city without waste bins.”

Trust
How small businesses can protect themselves from cyberattacks this festive season

With the sharp increase in online transactions during the holidays, the festive season can often be prime time for cyberattacks, especially in small and medium-sized businesses.

Trust
A digital way to answer the age-old question ‘Can I see some ID?’

Here’s how Mastercard is looking to help businesses confirm their customers’ attributes online, strengthening trust in the digital economy.

Small business
How we can build SME loyalty across Europe

Audrey Bui Khac explores the significant opportunity for banks and financial institutions to maintain and even grow their SME market share by offering benefits that provide both financial and strategic value for small business cardholders and that recognise their unique needs.

Innovation
Removing friction from B2B supplier on-boarding

By streamlining B2B supplier enablement and onboarding, we can enhance workflow efficiencies and enable suppliers and buyers to harness the advantages of card payments.

Trust
Guard your info: Mastercard’s top 10 back-to-school safety tips

As the summer winds down and the back-to-school season begins, it’s essential to stay vigilant against scams. Here are Mastercard’s top 10 tips to keep your info safe and secure during this hectic time.

Innovation
Inside the making of a self-custody Web3 card for a Web2 world

Mastercard worked with self-custody wallet leaders to make it easier for users to transact with their digital assets seamlessly and securely. Here's how.

Commerce
Street cred: How data insights are strengthening’s London business districts

Policymakers are embracing the power of data-backed decision-making, which supports more informed policies and fosters more transparency and trust in communities.

Sustainability
Embracing a Paperless Future: The shift from paper to digital payment confirmations in Europe

The shift from paper to digital receipts in Europe marks a positive step towards a more sustainable future.

Commerce
How European consumers beat the heat

The Mastercard Economics Institute explores how summer temperatures impact how people spend and what they're spending their money on.

Sustainability
Why Amsterdam is the first stop for urban mobility innovation

Tap to ride is just the start of our journey toward more simple and accessible ways to move around cities.

Sustainability
Dispatches from London: Turning climate concern into climate action

Here are eight ways to inspire, inform and enable more sustainable consumption choices.

Inclusion
How prepaid solutions can drive impactful and inclusive government disbursements

Our white paper dives in to how governments can drive inclusive and impactful disbursements and establish an efficient and effective infrastructure to unlock growth in a digital age.

Sustainability
Building sustainable SMEs

Our latest white paper on SMEs and sustainability explores the challenges that SMEs across Europe face when it comes to engaging in sustainable business practices, and identifies the solutions that Mastercard and financial institutions can offer together to support their evolving needs.

Trust
Say goodbye to manual card entry — we’re ushering in a new era of one-click online payments

As a part of our commitment to making digital commerce safer and more accessible for everyone, we’re announcing our goal of achieving 100% tokenization in Europe by 2030.

Commerce
What are the top 5 trending global destinations for summer 2024?

Three European cities are hotspots this summer, according to data analyzed by the Mastercard Economics Institute in its annual travel report.

Trust
The future of consumer credit: No one-size-fits-all solution

The varied nature of consumer credit markets across Europe means there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for the future of pay solutions. Instead, customers have the opportunity to revamp their credit value proposition in a variety of ways.

Inclusion
Access to capital — and childcare: How this program for Ukrainian women entrepreneurs helped them thrive in Poland

For these mothers who fled Ukraine, a support program offering childcare helped them nurture their business at the same time.

Inclusion
Why investing in women matters now more than ever

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect, renew and refocus our efforts towards the pursuit of inclusion and equality within the workplace and beyond. Because when we design a better world for women, it creates limitless possibilities for everyone.   

Commerce
Where skiers go to splurge or save

Consumers have shown a consistent demand for experiences since the pandemic, particularly in the travel sector, and skiing has benefitted from that continuing trend.

Innovation
Biometrics will soon replace passwords once and for all

Mastercard has launched a biometric-based authentication service to make digital interactions as simple as they are secure.

Inclusion
'If you don’t have an age strategy, you don’t have a growth strategy'

As workforce demographics change, Lyndsey Simpson of the U.K. startup 55/Redefined, part of the Mastercard Start Path Emerging Fintech program, is at the forefront of ensuring age diversity in employment.

Future of Work
Midlife crisis: How upskilling over-40s can shrink the digital talent gap

Professional upskilling should never stop, experts say. Reskilling older workers is critical — they’ll be a large percentage of the future workforce.

Innovation
Economic Outlook 2024: Striking a balance between prices and priorities

The start of the 2020s brought unprecedented fluctuations in the global economy, but next year marks a new chapter.

Innovation
Wallet Express: Empowering European consumers to choose

"In a world where technology is part of our everyday lives, the way we make payments is no exception," says Valerie Nowak, EVP, Product & Innovation, Europe. "The evolution of conventional wallets into digital companions is revolutionizing the way we make payments..."

Small business
More than just a plant shop– growing a small business in the heart of the Barcelona community

Partner duo Jesús and Pancho, fuelled by a passion for plants, founded their botanical design and plant collectors studio in 2017.

Small business
Strive EU Empowering small businesses across Europe to thrive

The new Mastercard Strive EU program will extend opportunities for small businesses as we look to support and build local partnerships that benefit local communities and the wider European economy. 

Sustainability
A curb's-eye view: U.K. startup reimagines city parking from the gutter up

AppyWay’s digital maps show where people can park (or not), cutting congestion and chipping away at decarbonization.

Small business
Bursting onto the healthy meal delivery scene: How this small business uses digital tools to continue improving its service

Simmer Eats was formed by university student Simmy Dhillon in his small accommodation kitchen. Now his entire family plays a role in keeping the business running.

Inclusion
How the public sector can foster greater inclusion

"Together, we must build a connected world that offers everyone equal opportunities to leverage technology to improve their lives," says Mark Barnett, President, Mastercard Europe.

Small business
Taking a restaurant on the road – How this small, family run business adjusted during the pandemic

Husband and wife Joel and Mayumi Francois took a risk during the pandemic, packing up shop with their restaurant and hitting the road to take their food directly to customers.

Small business
Small but mighty: Preparing family-run SMEs for a digital future

This week marks the European Commission’s annual SME Week, a chance to celebrate the enormous contribution these businesses make, but also an opportunity to problem solve and ensure they are supported in their evolution.

Small business
Four generations of cake - keeping tradition alive in the digital economy

Imperiales Alonso has been in business for four generations. Now, they are finding new ways to engage with 21st century customers.

Innovation
Inside the making of Rugby World Cup’s ‘soundtrack trophy’

From conversions to choruses and from moments to melodies, each Player of the Match trophy resounds with original music, game highlights and fan audio.

Trust
How fraudsters hook their victims — and how AI can stop them

A new tool can spot payments to scammers before victims lose their money. But breaking the psychological spell, one expert says, is another story.

Inclusion
Leveling the playing field: Why we’re creating the Mastercard Gamer Academy

There’s significant work to do to achieve greater inclusion in gaming and esports. That’s why we’re announcing the first-ever Mastercard Gamer Academy.

Inclusion
Mapping hope: How data is helping Ukrainian refugees find new homes in welcoming communities in Poland

Anonymized spending trends and other data helps refugees pinpoint smaller communities where they could thrive after the upheaval of war.

Innovation
Buy gas with your fingertip? The CEO of Mercedes pay on securing the future of in-car payments

"We’re working hard to keep giving our customers the most valuable gift: their own time," says Nico Kersten, CEO of Mercedes pay in an interview with the Mastercard Newsroom.

Inclusion
All work is all play for this wellness entrepreneur

Nina Elegba knows all about stress. It’s why she started her business in the first place. But when facing the challenges of growing her business, she looked for support to put her on the path to mindfulness — and success.

Understanding DORA’s vision for a resilient financial network

At Mastercard we support financial entities by enabling secure payments and data transfers worldwide. Our digital operational resilience comes via a combination of strong customer authentication, risk quantification, breach & attack simulation, online exposure monitoring, and systemic risk assessment.

Mobility
What happens when mobility and commerce merge?

The journey toward frictionless urban mobility has begun, paving the way for greater payments acceptance.

Mobility
Why in-car payments are the next frontier of urban mobility

Uli Kiendl, the CEO of Ryd, on the challenges of building its payments platform and how he sees in-car payments expanding to electric vehicle charging and more.

Sustainability
Shredding a myth about recycling: It’s time to tackle first-use plastic cards

Despite the acceleration of all things digital, 25 billion plastic payment cards remain in circulation, the vast majority eventually headed for the landfill. A new recycling program initially launched with HSBC may change that.

Mobility
Powering ahead: Shaping the future of electric vehicles

George Simon, executive vice president for Market Development in Europe, dives into the rapidly evolving landscape of EV charging infrastructure across the continent while highlighting the importance of user experience and accessibility.

Innovation
Lessons from life in London inspire this singer to write empowering music for all

“Connecting with fans is essential as an artist, and I always want to learn new and innovative ways to communicate with them,” says Young Athena.

Innovation
Verify a consumer’s bank account ownership in real time with open banking

Mastercard's Bart Willaert shares how businesses from every industry can now offer frictionless digital onboarding experiences with a new open banking account owner verification tool.

Sustainability
Sustainable consumption is changing the way people spend

Consumer priorities are shifting, and Gen Z and millennials are leading the shift to purpose-driven and local brands. Jim Colvine, SVP, Priceless Planet discusses how banks and fintechs are well placed to help more sustainable consumption.

Innovation
How to build buzz for traditional beekeepers

A digital marketplace is turning honey into virtual money to support local beekeepers and boost rural tourism in Bulgaria.

Inclusion
Empowering fintechs to build a brighter tomorrow for Ukraine

Start Path Ukraine is about more than just supporting Ukraine's start-up scene – it's about empowering its people to rebuild their lives and their country. The five inaugural fintechs represent the vanguard of that effort, and we're proud to welcome them into the Mastercard family.

Innovation
Digitising Europe’s economies through Digital Country Partnerships

"Through public-private partnerships with governments across Europe and beyond, we can harness the power of digitisation and data to provide better outcomes for people, and to build the digital economy of tomorrow," says Mark Barnett, president, Mastercard Europe.

Inclusion
How Mastercard is making today’s card accessible, inclusive, and sustainable

Jeanette Liendo, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, on how we can continue to understand the ongoing needs and challenges individuals face to enable positive everyday changes and create limitless possibilities for everyone.

Inclusion
A year of war in Ukraine: Finding hope through innovation and the power of human spirit

In the darkest of times, ordinary people have become everyday heroes, and government and businesses have formed powerful partnerships to mobilize resources to keep the economy going.

Innovation
Game changer: Meet the woman at the center of esports’ biggest live events

“Representation is extremely important,” says Belgium's Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere. “If you’re never going to see anyone like you on the big stage, why would you ever dream you could be able to?”

Innovation
DLD Conference 2023: Cornerstones for a successful Europe

Peter Bakenecker, Mastercard's president for Central Europe, joined the panel at this year’s DLD Conference to discuss cornerstones for a successful Europe.

Trust
Notes from a crisis: Sustaining Ukraine with compassion, innovation and urgency

Mastercard’s general manager for Ukraine and Moldova shares insights on a year of great turbulence and even greater resilience.

Innovation
Bon voyage to foreign exchange fees?

The U.K. startup Currensea is using open banking to power debit cards for fee-conscious travelers — and beyond.

Innovation
Know when to HODL ‘em? Nexo has the crypto card for you

The co-founder of U.K.-based Nexo says the crypto-backed card will transform the way people use digital currencies in their day-to-day lives.

Sustainability
Thoughts from an ‘urgent optimist’: How scaling prize-winning solutions could save the planet

Earthshot CEO Hannah Jones explains why corporate partnerships are central to realizing its ambitions and what it means to be an 'urgent optimist.'

Inclusion
How Mastercard is aiding Europe’s small businesses through turbulence

Mastercard Europe President Mark Barnett on two key moments for the company's small business support efforts across Europe: the one-year anniversary of Strive UK and the launch of its sister initiative Strive Czech Republic.

Innovation
Marking 25 years of Priceless

It all started with a commercial about a baseball game, and the memorable moments it sparked. Today, Priceless celebrates 25 years, as resonant and relevant as ever.

Innovation
A tale of three unicorns

These alumni of Mastercard's Start Path startup engagement program, including U.K.'s Thought Machine, shares the secret sauce behind their billion-dollar businesses.

Inclusion
Inspiring female founders: Gigapay’s Raiha Buchanan on startup culture and fostering tech talent for girls

Buchanan, a viola major who is now CEO of the Swedish fintech, also shares the advice she’d give her 12-year-old self.

Innovation
Why making payday any day can pay off for companies too

By harnessing the power of payroll as an asset, the U.K. startup Hi helps companies boost their liquidity and gives their employees more flexible access to their earned wages.

Inclusion
How Mastercard is working with Europe to provide the next phase of support for Ukraine

At the core of our response lies the ability to mobilise the breadth of our assets, networks, and business pillars to build partnerships, initiatives and solutions that form a varied relief strategy.

Sustainability
How big business can bring scale to climate action

Ellen Jackowski, Mastercard's new chief sustainabilty officer, on driving social and environmental — and how ice cream put her on that path.

Inclusion
‘From the war zone with peace’: How Ukrainian designers are rebuilding their brands

Six Ukrainian fashion designers shared a fashion showcase — and their stories of creativity amid chaos.

Innovation
How to make the crypto economy simple and safer

On the podcast 'What's Next In,' Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard's head of crypto and blockchain, says the company remains focused on enabling choice.

Innovation
Why cross-border payments are critical for Europe’s small businesses still struggling in the pandemic’s aftermath

It’s been a volatile few years for small and medium-sized enterprises, those intrepid companies that form the backbone of Europe’s economies.

Trust
What could protect us from future cyber threats? A good imagination

Go inside a recent threatcasting exercise in Dublin, where cybersecurity experts work through worst-case scenarios to help organisations learn how to disrupt them before they happen.

Inclusion
Creating inclusive cities that never sleep, one night at a time

Europe led the way in recognizing the opportunity of the night economy. A new global network wants to bring that promise to other cities around the world.

Inclusion
For people living with dementia, this debit card can unlock financial independence

Sibley, a marketing executive, saw the need to protect her mother’s everyday money and preserve her independence. So, she created Sibstar

Innovation
Rising cost of living biggest concern for UK small businesses but tech adoption and mentoring offers lifeline

To mark the UN’s Micro-, Small- and Medium- Sized Enterprises Day, Mastercard survey of UK small businesses reveals inflation and rising energy prices are the current biggest challenges

Inclusion
The power of cross-collaboration in driving female entrepreneurship

The levelling up agenda has never been more important than it is today

Inclusion
How True Name helps transgender people make a name for themselves

Many transgender people feel anxiety, embarrassment and frustration when showing an ID that doesn’t reflect their identity, research shows

Innovation
How a sonic brand is turning up the volume

The company’s first-ever music album is a natural extension, building awareness of the melody and its association with Mastercard

Innovation
How Mastercard is driving the evolution of the online shopping experience across Europe

The impact of Covid-19 on this transformation has been well-documented, yet our data shows that it is here to stay

Innovation
Why embedded finance is the future of digital trade

Embedded finance powers our digital lives and could transform how businesses interact with each other, including streamlining and automating payments and services across the supply chain for greater resilience.

Inclusion
Building a resilient and prosperous tomorrow for Ukrainian start-ups

By Mark Barnett, President, Mastercard Europe and Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard

Trust
Household financial pressures are mounting. Here’s how we help companies protect their customers

We need to rethink how bills are paid and customer communications are managed.

Inclusion
As travel takes off, how to put every destination on the map

Digitization and data insights can help small businesses and tourism agencies make the most of the momentum, says Mastercard Europe President Mark Barnett.

Innovation
Why collaboration is key to evolve Europe into global technology leader

For Europe, these are positive steps towards its ambition for the year: to consolidate itself as a global technology leader.

Sustainability
Calculating emissions takes time and money better spent reducing them.

Dodo is a U.K.-based startup that uses open banking to help small businesses easily measure their carbon footprint and reach net-zero goals.

Innovation
How these two startups are helping grow and secure the blockchain economy

Germany’s bitsCrunch and Denmark’s SPENN are joining Mastercard’s Start Path Crypto program to accelerate their growth.

Inclusion
How this female distillery owner made it to the top shelf

Kathy Caton started making gin a decade ago as a side hustle. Now Brighton Gin is her main gig.

Trust
From words to action: How European collaboration is leading the road towards a more sustainable tomorrow for payments

At Mastercard, we are proud to be able to back up our commitments with both action and results, from setting science-based targets to focus our efforts against climate change to committing to reach net zero emissions.

Inclusion
Doing well by doing good: How Mastercard employees and the power of volunteering

Charity starts at home: It's an ethos that we share and practise here at Mastercard as we aim to transform lives and inspire those around us by driving sustainable change on a local level.

Innovation
Economic Outlook 2022: Digital resilience and a return to the experience economy

Mastercard Economics Institute’s “Economy 2022” is a global outlook based on critical trends as seen through the lens of the consumer. It assesses how five fundamental factors — savings and spending, supply chains, digital acceleration, global travel, and a growing list of economic risks — will continue to shape the global economy.

Trust
Rethinking paying with plastic

Momentum is building for payment cards made from more sustainable materials, including recycled ocean plastic and bioplastic.

Innovation
How to build a scent for a brand for all senses

A Paris-based perfumer channeled her memories and a brand’s ‘priceless’ values for a set of signature fragrances.

Innovation
How Israel’s startup culture is revolutionizing payment security

Though a license with the Israeli government, Mastercard has opened a new innovation lab to help fintechs to strengthen the cyber ecosystem.

Trust
Why this Maestro is retiring after 30 years

Starting July 1, 2023, banks and other card issuers will begin replacing expired or lost Maestro cards - for instance with a Debit Mastercard

Innovation
Mapping out the world of open banking

With roots in Europe and the UK, open banking is now a global phenomenon taking form in different ways but with the same goal — more innovative financial services.

Innovation
When the route to sustainability gets twisty, tech provides vital road signs

Data is the fuel for more climate-conscious digital products and can provide insights into supply chain sustainability, says Malin Berge, who is helping build Mastercard's new Sustainability Lab in Sweden.

Innovation
A pandemic fairy tale

A children's bookstore owner in Palma, Spain, found a magic formula in navigating the last year: embracing digital commerce but doubing down on the human touch.

Trust
Three challenges we must face in the post-pandemic world

As world economies start to emerge from the pandemic, data protection, nationalist trade tensions and climate change threaten progress, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach says at the Wirtschaftstag (Business Day) 2021 conference in Berlin.

Innovation
For Madrid’s hospitality industry, hope and anxiety are on the menu

As the pandemic continues in one of the world's tourist hot spots, how are restaurants, hotels and museums preparing for the future?

Trust
Have data, will travel: Why the tourism industry needs data analytics for a recovery

COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation, and the rich data insights it enables can accelerate the recovery and creation of an inclusive global tourism economy. A trip to Tbilisi shows how.

Trust
‘Nobody in the Dark’ shines a light on digital exclusion

A light installation by the poet and mental health campaigner Hussain Manawer in two U.K. cities aims to start a conversation about bringing more people into the digital economy.

Innovation
Combating climate change: It takes a forest

The Priceless Planet Coalition is restoring 100 million trees over the next five years to combat climate change and reduce carbon in the atmosphere through forest restoration.

Innovation
Purchasing power plus carbon footprint tracking: A new way of thinking about payment ‘rewards’

The founders of Doconomy, whose DO Mastercard lets consumers calculate their carbon emissions and compensate for them, believe transparency and responsibility go hand in hand.

Inclusion
A million and counting: Bringing STEM opportunities to girls around the world

From cryptology to big data to digital convergence and more, young women gain needed skills and confidence for critical careers through G4T.

Innovation
Data gets a green energy boost

Data centers can have a huge carbon footprint. When P27 Nordic Payment Group and Mastercard launches the world's first real-time, cross-border bank payment system in 2021, it will use zero-emission data processing centers.

Inclusion
Tearing down the digital divide for older adults in Sweden

In Sweden, where older adults are being left out of the cashless revolution, Mastercard employees are helping them embrace digital payments and online commerce.