Mastercard appears to be the first of major credit card issuers to finally eliminate the need for signatures when paying for a purchase at checkouts.
Linda Kirkpatrick, Executive Vice President, Market Development, MasterCard, detailed in a press release today how over 80 percent of Mastercard in-store transactions in North America today do not require a signature at checkouts, and as of April 2018, that number will hit 100 percent, as the company plans to ditch signatures for credit and debit purchases in Canada and the U.S.
Mastercard says their research has concluded most people find it would be easier and faster to pay if signatures were eliminated at tills. Moreover, merchant partners also support the change, to help speed up checkout lines.
Kirkpatrick details how the company’s “secure network and state-of-the art systems combined with new digital payment methods that include chip, tokenization, biometrics and specialized digital platforms use newer and more secure methods to prove identity.”
The company says their research also concludes customers are “ready for this evolution,” with most not worried about retiring signatures.
In Canada, most credit card and debit transactions require a PIN at POS terminals. For mobile payments, authorization is completed with Touch ID (and soon Face ID with iPhone X) when it comes to Apple Pay. Also, for mobile and tap payments, most financial institutions in Canada have set limits of $50 to $100, as an extra layer of security. There’s just no longer a need for signatures.
Moneris earlier today reported tapless transactions and spending increased in Canada’s third quarter, a sign most Canadians are already using tap and mobile payments at checkouts.
I don’t remember the last time I had to sign at checkouts. Even when a signature is required, merchants never check them anyways (I usually sign with a smiley face and nobody bats an eye). Get ready for Visa, American Express and others to follow.
Are you going to miss the signature at checkouts with Mastercard?
