Google Wallet to Offer Linked Debit Cards

November 21, 2024         By: Kevin Xu

In a bid to expand the feature set of Google’s Wallet offering, the company has released a physical debit card linked to its users’ Google Wallet accounts.

The card (which can be ordered here) will utilize the funds in the linked Wallet, and will use MasterCard’s payment network, meaning it can be accepted at any store that takes MasterCard.

Google also won’t charge for the card, nor will they charge monthly fees.

So why does this matter?

In many respects, the card will function similarly to a debit card, and will make person-to-person transactions much quicker than other competitors’ offerings. If someone pays you through Google Wallet, these funds will now be immediately available instead of sitting around and being tied up while waiting to clear.

The wallet balance, which is funded by the user’s linked credit and debit cards, can also be used by the Google Wallet Card to withdraw money from ATMs (but may carry a fee depending on the machine).

By offering what is seemingly just an ordinary debit card, Google is bridging the divide between mobile payments and ingrained consumer habits. While this new feature may not completely convince people who are adamantly against mobile wallets to finally use them, it may attract those already paying by mobile who want a faster alternative to getting access to their cash.