Satispay adds Mastercard debit cards and in-app investing

Satispay has partnered with Mastercard to add debit cards to its financial app, while also introducing in-app trading in more than 1,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds. The Italian fintech says the move gives its 6.5 million users access to card payments worldwide, alongside existing smartphone payments, bill payment and instalment services.

The launch marks another step in Satispay’s effort to broaden the app beyond its original payments network. Founded in 2015, the company says its proprietary system lets users pay in stores and online by smartphone, send money to friends, pay bills and split payments into instalments.

Debit cards tied to subscription plans

Satispay is offering three physical debit cards, each connected to one of its three subscription plans. The cards will be available to all customers, according to the company.

By integrating a Mastercard card into the app, Satispay says customers will be able to pay with Satispay globally. The company said the card will carry no foreign-exchange fees on purchases made in non-euro currencies. Cash withdrawals in Italy and abroad will also be free, subject to the limits set for each subscription plan.

The arrangement extends Satispay’s payment proposition from its own network into card-based spending. For users, the practical effect is that a balance or account relationship inside the app can be paired with a physical debit card for transactions outside the settings where Satispay’s smartphone payment tools are already used.

Stocks and ETFs added to the app

Satispay is also adding investment functionality. Users will be able to buy and sell more than 1,000 stocks and ETFs directly through the app, with a fixed fee of €0.89 for each transaction, according to the company.

The fintech said recurring investment plans will be available free of charge on selected Vanguard ETFs. Exchange-traded funds typically provide exposure to a basket of securities through a listed instrument, while recurring plans automate purchases at set intervals. Satispay did not give further details in the announcement on the full product list or eligibility conditions.

The new investment tools place Satispay closer to the account-style model used by broader consumer finance apps. Earlier this year, the company activated IBAN functionality, according to Satispay chief executive Alberto Dalmasso, adding another element commonly associated with bank accounts.

“Our perspective is to make Satispay the most beloved financial platform, in Italy and abroad,” Dalmasso said. “For this reason, alongside the many services we have already launched, we continue to work so that users in the community can find all the functionalities of an account in the app: from the IBAN, already activated at the beginning of the year, to debit cards.”

The company has described the expansion as part of building a “superapp,” a term commonly used for platforms that combine several financial and consumer services in one interface. Satispay did not disclose launch volumes, projected card uptake or financial targets for the new debit card and investment services.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.