Grab launches Asia's first numberless card

It offers better card security an expanded rewards system.

Ride hailing platform Grab has partnered with Mastercard to launch GrabPay Card, Asia’s first numberless card, in Singapore, the company announced.

The new platform reportedly offers heightened card security, access to an expanded rewards ecosystem and Grab payments integration for cashless transactions. Singapore users can now also use GrabPay Card to shop in Mastercard’s 53 million network of merchants globally.

Grab said that the lack of numbers in the physical card averts the prospect of theft of personal and financial information. It is an extension of the GrabPay wallet, and details of the card are stored within the Grab app.

The GrabPay Card utilises 3DSecure technology to protect users from online fraud and also has an in-app lock card function that is PIN-protected. This will allow users to instantly suspend payments for lost cards, the press release revealed.

Users can also add their digital GrabPay Card to their Samsung Pay wallet and make offline payments by tapping their device at any contactless-enabled payment terminal, the company added.

Grab users can also now earn GrabPay reward points for their purchases at any merchant that accepts Mastercard cards, or for Grab services. As part of a limited launch promotion period, the GrabPay Card will reward users with up to ten times GrabRewards points for every dollar spent.

Users can apply for the physical numberless card after receiving their digital card.

The physical card will be rolled out in batches, with the digital GrabPay Card to be launched in the Philippines in Q1 2020. Other Southeast Asian countries will follow in the first half of 2020.