AT SALONE DEI PAGAMENTI, 
INTESA SANPAOLO AND MASTERCARD TOGETHER WITH TAPSTER
INTRODUCING THE NEW PAYMENT BRACELET

• Intesa Sanpaolo is the first company in Italy to offer its customers a bracelet for contactless payments, simple, fast and secure. The payment ring is already a fashion trend among young people and not only
• Made by Tapster and immediately connectable to all Intesa Sanpaolo cards of the Mastercard circuit, the new wearable allows you to pay with style your purchases with more useful information features
• In the first half of 2024, there was a rapid growth in double-digit payments (+58%) with wallets and wearables, confirming their daily use even for small expenses

Milan, 26 november 2024 – Intesa Sanpaolo, the Italian leader in digital payments, confirms its innovation capacity by announcing together with Mastercard the arrival of the new Payment Bracelet in Italy. It is a wearable solution, once again at the forefront, which allows customers of all ages, starting with the youngest, to make contactless payments in a simple, fast and safe way, and also with style, thanks to a simple gesture of the wrist.

The new wearable can be connected to all Intesa Sanpaolo cards of the Mastercard circuit. It is built, in partnership with Tapster, with durable, eco-friendly and water resistant materials; it integrates an NFC chip and an antenna, and to make payments it does not need any internet connection or battery charging: just put your wrist for a few seconds on a payment terminal where contactless is accepted, without showing any personal information.

The registration of the cardholder’s payment card on the device is very simple and takes place directly at the time of purchase on the site gotapster.com: once the preferred design has been chosen and ordered, and the user’s payment card details have been entered, the Payment Bracelet is sent in a non-active state. Once received, it can be easily activated by the customer through the Tapster app and the banking credentials used to access the Intesa Sanpaolo Mobile app; alternatively, you can register at a later stage of the purchase, starting from the Tapster app and following a few simple steps. In case of lost bracelet, the payment functionality can be immediately suspended directly from the Tapster app, without any impact for physical card payments.

Thanks to the innovative "TAPSTER Share" function integrated in the device, with the Payment Bracelet it is possible to also quickly share important data and information in case of need, such as emergency contacts, health data and useful information in case of emergency. Through the Tapster app, customers can upload and update information to share, choosing what they want to make visible: to view it, just bring a smartphone with NFC reader close to the Tapster logo on the bracelet.

The data presented by the recent Innovative Payments Observatory of the Politecnico of Milano confirms the rapid, double-digit growth of wallet and wearable payments in 2024. Transaction volumes reached €19.9 billion in the first half of the year, marking a 58% increase compared to the first half of 2023. The average transaction value continues to decline, now even lower than that of electronic card payments. This trend further highlights the well-established habit of using innovative payment methods for everyday purchases, including small-value transactions.

“We look at the new customer behaviors and their demand for quick and easy solutions to innovate and expand our digital payment solutions on both physical and online channels, both traditional and innovative payments, but always at the cutting edge and in maximum safety – comments Claudia Vassena, Executive Director Sales & Marketing Digital Retail at Intesa Sanpaolo – To the payment ring, which has become a trendy object in a short time and is used by thousands of customers for their purchases, we now add the new bracelet. It is a contactless device with an essential design and bright colors, versatile and handy, which allows to leave at home wallet, bag and phone.  Our goal is to make digital payment more popular, accessible and inclusive”.

“The renewed partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo and Tapster confirms Mastercard’s commitment to continue innovating the digital payments space and simplifying end-user shopping experiences, aiming at making transactions more secure, faster and seamless” – said Luca Corti, Country Manager at Mastercard Italia – “The new Payment Bracelet is therefore to enrich the already wide range of weareables on the market, with the aim of meeting the needs of the younger generation towards informed and simplified shopping experiences”.

Ludvig Scheja, Co-founder di TAPSTER AB: “With the new Payment Bracelet we aimed to create a solution that was not only safe and reliable but also simple, elegant and suitable for everyday wear. The launch of this bracelet is a source of great pride for TAPSTER. I am deeply grateful for our collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo. It’s truly impressive to see how they are leading the way in innovation and adapting to customer needs, setting new standards in the banking industry. Together, we are making secure and convenient payment solutions increasingly accessible to everyone.”

Contacts

Intesa Sanpaolo

Media and Associations Relations

Media Banca dei Territori e Media Locali

stampa@intesasanpaolo.com    
 

Mastercard

Giuliana Abbate

E. Giuliana.Abbate@mastercard.com

Omnicom PR Group

Ufficio Stampa Mastercard

T. 02 6241 19 - mln.mastercard@fleishmaneurope.com
 

Tapster

Karl Hermansson

karl@gotapster.com

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Intesa Sanpaolo

Intesa Sanpaolo, with €422 billion in loans and €1.4 trillion in customer financial assets at the end of September 2024, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in wealth management, with a strong focus on digital and fintech. The Group will provide €115 billion of Impact lending by 2025 to support communities and the green transition, together with a €1.5 billion program (2023-2027) to help people in need. The Bank's network of museums, the Gallerie d'Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value. 

News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom - X: @intesasanpaolo - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/intesa-sanpaolo

Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Together with our customers, we are building a sustainable economy where everyone can thrive. We support a wide range of digital payment solutions, making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks integrate to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their fullest potential.

www.mastercard.com

 

Tapster

TAPSTER is a leading provider of wearable payment technology, offering innovative solutions that combine style, convenience and functionality. Its products are designed to enable secure and contactless payments and access to digital services, without the need for batteries or internet connection, meeting the needs of modern and active lifestyles. With a focus on design, intuitive technology and sustainable practices, TAPSTER is redefining the way people interact with digital payments and systems. The company’s product portfolio includes a range of wearable devices, such as rings, key chains and bracelets, which prioritise simplicity, security and connectivity.

For more information: GoTapster.com