Mastercard enables Romania and Belgium to raise the Contactless limit and champions permanent increase across Europe

April 6, 2020 | Belgium, Waterloo

Important new move builds on the phenomenal growth in use of contactless with Mastercard enabling businesses and retailers to implement limit increases quickly and efficiently to help people everywhere benefit from the fastest and simplest way to pay.


Following the news that Mastercard committed to enabling the increase in contactless payment limits across Europe, a further 2 countries have become fast followers, bringing the total to 31 countries implementing limits, which will ultimately improve shopping experiences for people across the region.

Across Europe, Mastercard has championed several initiatives which have seen a dramatic increase in the use of contactless cards and mobile devices; 75% of all Mastercard transactions across Europe are now contactless.  This increase in contactless limits will mean cardholders and shopkeepers will soon be able to make and receive more of their payments both quickly and securely, and without the need to enter a PIN or use cash.

“Mastercard was the first to grasp the potential and ensure all payment terminals became contactless ready from 1st January 2020. We have all now seen how quickly people have embraced Contactless payments as their preferred way to pay every day.  These measures are designed to reflect the pace of changing behaviours of the people we all serve giving them ease, speed and peace of mind in a fast changing world.” said Milan Gauder, Executive Vice President of Product and Innovation, Europe at Mastercard.

Whilst many countries are leading the way with permanent changes to limits, some are temporary measures to help their people shop easily during this difficult time. These fast followers will be fully enabled by Mastercard to ensure, whether a permanent or temporary change, it is implemented quickly and safely.

He added, “Since its inception, Mastercard has been championing the benefits of contactless payments as a simple, safe and fast way to pay. Today’s announcement means that not only will those who are already using contactless benefit from even more freedom to pay, in a way they want, it will also provide additional support for people with the daily challenges they face.”

Please find below all countries with their old and new limits:
 

Country Croatia Cyprus Estonia Greece Germany Ireland Latvia Luxembourg
Currency HRK EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR
Current limit 100 20 25 25 25 30 25 25
New limit 350 50 50 50 50 50 50 50

 

Country Malta Netherlands Portugal Spain Poland UK Hungary Romania
Currency EUR EUR EUR EUR PLN GBP HUF RON
Current limit 25 25  20 20 50 30 5000 100
New limit 50 50 50 50 100 45 15000 200

 

Country Uzbekistan Bulgaria N.Macedonia Albania Kosovo Lithuania Belgium
Currency UZS BGN MKD LEK EUR EUR EUR
Current limit 52500 50 750 2000 15 25 25
New limit 250000 100 2000 4500 40 50 50

 

Country Sweden Armenia Belarus Georgia Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkey
Currency SEK AMD BYN GEL KZT KGS TJS TRY
Current limit 200 12100 20 45 5000 1525 140 120
New limit 400 20000 100 100 20000 2500 200 250

 

 

-Ends-


 

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

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Mastercard Communications Contacts:
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