Wema Bank has enabled Google Pay for eligible Mastercard holders, allowing customers to make local and international payments through compatible Android smartphones without using their physical cards.
The service allows customers to pay for goods and services on supported online platforms, mobile applications and physical merchant locations, including contactless-enabled point-of-sale terminals.
Customers can also use the service for digital subscriptions, travel bookings and international transactions, subject to merchant and payment support.
Moruf Oseni, managing director and chief executive officer of Wema Bank, said the integration was aimed at expanding customers’ payment options as digital commerce grows.
“At Wema Bank, we remain committed to making banking and payments simpler, more accessible and responsive to the evolving needs of our customers. As more people embrace digital commerce and mobile-first experiences, we recognise the importance of providing payment solutions that allow them to transact conveniently, securely and confidently, wherever supported,” Oseni said.
He said eligible Mastercard holders would be able to use their existing cards for online shopping, international payments and purchases at contactless-enabled locations.
“Our introduction of Google Pay for eligible Wema Mastercard holders represents another important step in this direction. Customers can now enjoy more flexibility in how they use their existing cards, whether shopping online, making international payments or completing everyday purchases at contactless-enabled locations. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to bring this globally recognised payment experience closer to our customers in Nigeria,” he said.
The bank said Google Pay uses tokenisation to protect card information by replacing actual card numbers with unique digital tokens during transactions.
This means customers’ actual card numbers are not shared with merchants when they pay through the service. Compatible devices also provide security features such as screen locks and device authentication.
To activate the service, eligible Wema Mastercard holders must download Google Wallet from the Google Play Store, add their cards and complete the verification process.
Customers can then select Google Pay at checkout on participating online platforms or tap compatible NFC-enabled Android smartphones on supported contactless payment terminals.
The bank said the introduction of Google Pay builds on its digital payment services and follows the enablement of tokenisation for Verve cardholders through its ALAT digital banking platform.
Wema Bank said eligible Mastercard holders could begin using the service after registering and verifying their cards. In-store contactless payments require compatible NFC-enabled Android devices and supported payment terminals.
Taofeek Oyedokun is a correspondent at BusinessDay with years of experience reporting on political economy, public policy, migration, environment/climate change, and social justice. A graduate of Political Science from the University of Lagos, he has also earned multiple professional certificates in journalism and media-related training. Known for his clear, data-driven reporting, Oyedokun covers a wide range of national and international socioeconomic issues, bringing depth, balance, and public-interest focus to his work.
