PURCHASE, NY – October 18, 2018 – As advancements in technology and security change how people pay and verify their identity, Mastercard today announced that cardholder signatures will now be optional, both on the card and on receipts.
For cardholders, not needing to sign creates a faster and more streamlined point of sale experience. Today, consumers experience this when they tap to pay—contactless card payments are quick, secure and don’t often require a signature.
This decision is aligned with evolving consumer preferences. In a survey conducted in the U.S., only 40 percent said they had signed the back of their cards, and one-third of those who haven’t signed said they don’t see the point in doing so. In the same survey, more than half of respondents believed they were just as secure without signing the back of their cards, and two-thirds wanted biometrics to replace signatures, passwords and PIN codes when paying with their card.