Citi throws hat into digital wallet ring

The digital wallet landscape is heating up once again as Citibank prepares to introduce its mobile wallet.



A solution that supports online, in-app and in-store payments, Citi Pay allows customers to store their Citibank online user ID and password through the digital wallet app, then pay for online and in-app purchases digitally. Citi is partnering with Mastercard to leverage its digital payment service, Masterpass, to enable the online and in-app transactions. This will allow Citi customers to use Citi Pay at hundreds of thousands of merchants across 33 countries at launch, a company statement said.



For Android users, the digital wallet also enables Citi cardholders to make in-store purchases by tapping their Android mobile devices at any near-file communications (NFC)-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminal.



“Whether it is online, on a phone, or at a store, we want Citi customers to have seamless, convenient and fast payment options wherever they go,” said Barry Rodrigues, head of global digital payments at Citi. “Citi is uniquely positioned to accelerate payment innovation on a global scale. With Citi Pay, we are offering our customers flexibility wherever and whenever they choose to make purchases.”



Citi Pay will roll out in Singapore, Australia and Mexico with tap-and-pay capabilities later this year. The wallet will launch in the United States in early 2017, with online, in-app and tap-and-pay capabilities. Further Citi Pay launches in additional markets will follow, the statement said.