Business · Companies · 2 days ago
Mastercard plans card payments during network outages from 2027
Mastercard plans to introduce a feature from 2027 that will let people pay by card during network outages in Europe and Switzerland.
It is intended for places such as supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies.
From February 2027, all newly issued Mastercard cards are expected to support the feature, and newly installed or replacement payment terminals must be equipped by May.
The terminal must still have power for the payment to work.
During an outage, the card and terminal check the payment directly, with chip and PIN, for purchases of up to 200 euros; the customer’s bank sets the limit.
The payment is processed once the network connection returns.
The feature aims to keep card payments working during widespread disruptions, such as the 2025 power outage in Spain and Portugal, and is already used in several northern European countries.
Mastercard plans to introduce card payments that can continue during network outages in Europe and Switzerland from 2027.
The feature is expected to work at places such as supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies, provided payment terminals still have power.
From February 2027, all newly issued Mastercard cards are to support the feature, and newly installed or replaced terminals must be equipped by May.
During an outage, the card and terminal will check payments directly, with a limit of up to 200 euros per purchase set by the customer’s bank.
- Who
- Mastercard is introducing the feature for cardholders and merchants.
- What
- Card payments will be able to continue during network outages, using a chip and PIN. Transactions will be processed after the connection returns.
- When
- The rollout begins in 2027. All newly issued cards are to support it from February, and newly installed or replaced terminals must be equipped by May.
- Where
- Europe and Switzerland.
- Why
- To help prevent cashless payments from collapsing during widespread network disruptions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
A power outage in Spain and Portugal left millions of people temporarily unable to pay by card.
Card payments continued in Latvian shops supplied by emergency generators during a severe storm.
All newly issued Mastercard cards are expected to support the feature.
Newly installed or replaced payment terminals must be equipped for the feature.
- Rollout region
- Europe and Switzerland
- New cards
- All newly issued Mastercard cards from February 2027
- Payment terminals
- Newly installed or replaced terminals must be equipped by May 2027
- Offline transaction limit
- Up to 200 euros per purchase, with the bank setting the limit
- Payment method
- Chip and PIN
- Power requirement
- The terminal must still have electricity
Sources
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