Explore the latest news, stories and media resources from Mastercard

Pace of small business creation faster in the UK than anywhere else globally, growing 101% year-on-year according to Mastercard.

Mastercard launches Strive UK, an initiative that will empower 650,000 British micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to thrive in the digital economy over the next three years and beyond.

Mastercard partners with iconic East London barbershop SliderCuts to offer free money and tech advice for those most in need of financial support following the pandemic, with a complimentary haircut included.

Mastercard and NatWest Group today announced a further expansion of their partnership bringing faster, secure online payments with Pay by Bank app (PbBa) to its mobile banking app users across the NatWest Group brands: NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank and Coutts.

Together with its partners ekko and HELPFUL, Mastercard has pledged to donate and plant 75,000 trees in support of the Round Britain Climate Challenge, the first ever circumnavigation attempt of mainland Britain with an electric paramotor.

Today, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth launches the UK Inclusive Growth Score, which uses 21 different metrics from three pillars - place, economy, and community - to showcase the social and economic profile of a postcode sector and the potential it may hold.

According to Mastercard SpendingPulse™ UK retail sales are expected to grow 12% during the back-to-school period compared to the same time pre-pandemic in 2019

Today the award-winning global startup engagement program Mastercard Start Path welcomes 11 fintech companies into its network including UK Fintech Osper.

Lloyds Bank’s PayFrom Bank, enabled by Mastercard’s Open Banking Merchant Payment Solution, lets consumers make payments on an organisation’s website directly from their bank account, without having to enter any payment details.

The new cloud native PayPort+ technology – powered by Vocalink and Form3 - offers enhanced performance, ease of integration, and seamless connection into the UK’s Faster Payments network

New research on sustainability, commissioned by Mastercard, reveals a marked increase in consumer passion for the environment as a result of COVID-19 with 85% of the globe willing to take personal action to combat environmental and sustainability issues in 2021.

Sentimental shoppers are investing more than ever before around Valentine’s Day according to the annual Mastercard Love Index which reveals spending has increased 138 per cent over the past decade. However, this year home is where the heart is as couples are planning to spend the day — and their money — differently.

Mastercard and NatWest Group today announced an expansion of their payments partnership by agreeing to convert all the Banking Group’s retail and business debit cards to Mastercard. The agreement includes all NatWest Group brands: NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ulster Bank and Coutts, totalling 16 million cards.

Mastercard and women’s football is a long lasting story of more than 25 years as well as the relationship that has been built around two European clubs, Arsenal Women and Olympique Lyonnais in 2019, as well as with several ambassadors from France (Ada Hegerberg, Kadeisha Buchanan, Saki Kumagai, and Wendie Renard) but also across the channel (Alex Scott, Sam Kerr, Pernille Harder). Mastercard’s ambition is to contribute to the development of women’s football around the world, to support equality and to inspire fans and football enthusiasts.

‘Tis the season to be thoughtful, as new Mastercard research reveals that the average festive shopper is putting more time and effort into gifts for loved ones this Christmas – with three quarters (77 per cent) of Europe saying the year that was has reminded them what is important in life and 65 per cent saying they are being more thoughtful this Christmas.

Leading European payments fintech Contis today announced its partnership with Mastercard as a principal issuing member. Through this partnership, Contis delivers a comprehensive end-to-end Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform including direct access to both of the world’s leading global payments networks, accepted by millions of merchants worldwide.

TransferGo and Mastercard today have announced a partnership that enables customers across 20 European countries to make international money transfers from any payment card or bank account directly to a Mastercard debit or credit card.