Marqeta to power virtual Google Pay balance card

Marqeta, the global modern card issuing platform, have announced that its modern card issuing platform will power the new virtual Google Pay balance card.

The new virtual Google Pay balance card, powered by Marqeta, allows users to easily spend their Google Pay balance through a virtual card tokenized into a mobile wallet and used at accepting merchants. Previously, Google Pay balance users could use their balance for person-to-person payments, purchases on eligible Google-owned properties (e.g., the Play Store or YouTube), or they could transfer their funds to their bank account.

Now with the new virtual card, Google Pay users can make purchases directly from their Google Pay balance.

“The power of modern card issuing is being able to embed a card into an app like Google Pay and create completely new vectors of commerce that change how consumers relate to their money,” said Jason Gardner, Founder and CEO of Marqeta. “Marqeta’s modern card issuing platform is designed to be able to help the world’s most innovative companies execute game changing products at scale, and it’s hard to find a company that embodies this more than Google. We’re honored to be working with Google Pay.”

Contactless payments and mobile wallet use has surged during COVID-19 shutdowns as people have shifted away from paying with cash or physical debit cards. Marqeta was one of the first companies to bring technology to market allowing companies to instantly provision a tokenized card into a mobile wallet, allowing cardholders to instantly begin spending, without having to manually enter card numbers.

“Our announcement powering Google Pay’s balance card reinforces the front row seat Marqeta continues to occupy in helping enable the launch of new card programs with such strong organisations,” said Duncan Currie, Country Manager, Marqeta Australia and New Zealand.

He added, “Digital wallet usage has increased significantly over the past 18 months, and so too has been the use of these digital wallets to transact. It has real traction!”