Mastercard has agreed with HSBC's First Direct to provide debit cards to the retail bank's 1.5m current account customers from next year. In the UK, MasterCard issues debit cards for Santander, Metro Bank, and Starling Bank.
A First Direct spokesman wrote that the company was 'really excited by the opportunities and services this will provide to our 1st Account customers. We'll be letting customers know more about the benefits closer to the time.' Kelly Devine, Mastercard's UK & Ireland president, said the deal 'is further proof that Mastercard's debit card solutions offer all the flexibility, security and convenience banks and their cardholders require in today's digital age.'