ProvidusUnity Bank customers can now use eligible Mastercard cards through Google Pay, opening another route for contactless purchases and online transactions without having to present a physical card or manually enter card details at every checkout.
The integration, announced on October 29, 2026, extends the bank’s digital payment offerings. However, the service is limited to eligible Mastercard holders using compatible devices and shopping with merchants that accept Google Pay.
The launch also builds on infrastructure the bank began developing several years ago to support tokenised payments and mobile wallets.
How Customers Can Use Google Pay
Eligible ProvidusUnity Bank Mastercard holders can add their cards to Google Pay on supported devices. Once configured, they can use compatible phones and other supported devices to pay at contactless-enabled terminals and participating online merchants.
The service relies on tokenisation, a technology that replaces sensitive card details with a unique digital token during supported transactions. This helps reduce the exposure of the underlying card information when payments are processed.
Digital wallets can also simplify checkout by allowing customers to pay through supported devices without repeatedly entering their full card details.
However, access is not automatic for every bank customer. Users must have an eligible Mastercard, a compatible device and access to a merchant that supports Google Pay. In-store transactions also depend on the availability of compatible contactless payment terminals.
Bank Builds on Investments Dating Back to 2021
Google Pay is the latest addition to ProvidusUnity Bank’s efforts to develop its digital payment infrastructure.
The bank’s work in this area began in 2021, when it partnered with Mastercard and Thales to introduce Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) tokenisation capabilities in Nigeria.
In 2022, the bank expanded its contactless payment initiatives through a collaboration involving Mastercard, Interswitch and Thales.
The new Google Pay integration builds on those earlier efforts by extending the bank’s payment capabilities to another digital wallet.
Deoye Ojuroye, the bank’s executive director and chief financial officer, said the investment reflects a long-term approach to building payment infrastructure that can accommodate changing customer behaviour while supporting secure transactions and operational resilience.
Elliott Sangoleye, divisional head of digital banking, said the integration is intended to make supported online and contactless payments more convenient for eligible customers.
Merchant Infrastructure Also Supports Digital Payments
The bank’s payment strategy includes services designed to support businesses as well as individual customers.
According to ProvidusUnity Bank, its merchant payment gateway supports tokenisation, while its contactless-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminals can accept eligible physical cards, compatible mobile wallets and payment-enabled wearables.
Lanre Ogundare, the bank’s group head of card business and solutions, said the institution began investing in tokenisation in 2021 because it anticipated growing demand for digital wallets, mobile payments and payment-enabled devices.
He said enabling eligible Mastercard cards on Google Pay extends that foundation and gives customers more flexibility in how they make supported transactions.
The bank also said it is working to connect its payment capabilities to changing digital commerce needs, with an emphasis on convenience, security and continued development of its payments ecosystem.
How does it work for Customers and Businesses
For customers, Google Pay offers an alternative to carrying a physical card for supported purchases. Tokenisation can help protect sensitive payment information, while digital wallet functionality can make checkout more convenient.
Merchants may also benefit by offering customers another payment option, particularly those who prefer using smartphones or compatible wearable devices.
However, the extent of these benefits depends on where the service is accepted and which cards are supported. The announcement does not establish that all ProvidusUnity Bank Mastercard products or all Nigerian merchants are eligible.
The integration adds to the range of digital payment options available in Nigeria, where banks and payment providers continue to invest in technologies intended to support electronic commerce.
For now, eligible ProvidusUnity Bank Mastercard holders can explore Google Pay on supported devices, while the service’s practical reach will depend on card eligibility, device compatibility, and merchant acceptance.
Source: BusinessDay