Android Pay is Now Live in Canada with Mastercard

Mastercard cardholders can now make safe and secure payments with Android Pay

Google confirmed that Android Pay, enabling contactless mobile payments with Android-based devices, is now live in Canada. It provides millions of Mastercard cardholders with yet another innovative, fast and secure way to pay, wherever Mastercard contactless payments are accepted. Starting today Android Pay is available to Canadians with Mastercard cards issued by Alberta Treasury Bank Financial (ATB), BMO Financial Group (BMO), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Canadian Tire Financial Services (CTFS), President’s Choice Financial (PCF), and National Bank.

“Canadians are increasingly turning to mobile payments and by teaming up with Google we are giving Mastercard cardholders the ability to pay with their Android device,” said Jason Davies, Vice President, Digital Payments, Mastercard. “Now Android users can add their Mastercard to Android Pay and use their phone to make simple, fast and secure purchases anywhere they can tap.”

Payments made with Android Pay use tokenization technology delivered by Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES), which ensures the highest level of security. In setting up a device for Android Pay, Mastercard generates a digital “token” that is associated with that device and stored on a secure server. There is a separate token assigned to each of the consumer’s devices, which means that not only is the token number different from the ‘real’ card number, it also cannot be used for transaction through any other device. When the consumer uses their mobile device in a transaction, it is the token and not the real card number that is provided to the shop. For consumers and retailers alike, every purchase made with a Mastercard using Android Pay offers all the benefits and guarantees of a transaction with a physical Mastercard.

“We’re excited to bring the simplicity and security of mobile payments to Mastercard customers in Canada,” said Pali Bhat, Senior Director, Product Management for Google.  “Starting today, Canadian shoppers will be able to use Android Pay at hundreds of thousands of contactless payment terminals across Canada.”

Android Pay offers a fast, simple and secure way to use credit, debit, reloadable prepaid cards and gift cards to buy things in-apps or in-stores — all without pulling out a physical wallet. Your device can notify you of your transactions with Android Pay. And if your phone is ever lost or stolen, you can simply use Find My Device to instantly lock your device from anywhere, secure it with a new password, or even wipe it clean of your personal information. Android Pay works with NFC-enabled Android devices and tablets running KitKat (4.4) or higher.

Once the cardholder downloads the Android Pay app from the Google Play Store, and adds their Mastercard card, they are ready to shop simply, safely and securely.

Android Pay is available at shops across Canada, wherever contactless payments are accepted. Mastercard contactless transactions are accepted at more than six million locations in 96 countries around the globe.

About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.