Mastercard launches programme to expand contactless payments in Mexico

Most consumers in Mexico already have a card or digital wallet that supports contactless payments. Far fewer, however, use the feature at checkout. Mastercard has launched the Mastercard Contactless Payments Acceleration Program to narrow the gap between available infrastructure and everyday use at the point of sale. The initiative brings together acquiring banks, large merchants and other payment ecosystem participants.

Barriers to contactless use at checkout

Mastercard estimates that more than 90% of users in Mexico have a contactless-enabled card or digital wallet. At the same time, 73% of eligible transactions at large retailers encounter some form of friction at the point of sale. As a result, contactless technology is used for only four in ten transactions in categories such as supermarkets and pharmacies.

Card use in physical stores points to growing demand. According to the 2024 National Survey of Financial Inclusion (ENIF), conducted by Mexico’s national statistics institute INEGI and the National Banking and Securities Commission, 36.9% of Mexicans aged 18 to 70 used a card to shop at supermarkets, department stores and convenience stores in 2024. Mastercard says the figures show that consumers are increasingly ready for digital payments, while acceptance needs to keep pace.

Support for acquirers and merchants

The programme provides acquiring banks and large merchants with investment, operational resources and technical support. Mastercard will work with acquirers in Mexico to offer technology enablement, staff training and operational assistance. It will also draw on its global payments experience and market intelligence to identify barriers and put solutions in place.

The first phase will focus on large retail stores, convenience stores, retail chains and businesses with high transaction volumes. Mastercard sees these segments as having the greatest potential to increase contactless use. The initiative will also encourage wider acceptance of digital wallets, giving consumers more ways to pay with mobile devices at checkout.

Sidney Massunaga, Country Manager of Mastercard Mexico, described contactless payments as a key opportunity to further digitalise the Mexican economy. According to Massunaga, the infrastructure is in place and consumers are ready to use it. The main challenge is wider adoption at the point of sale, so Mastercard is working with the broader ecosystem to expand acceptance.