Google announced via a blog post on Friday that it is getting rid of the debit cards linked to its Wallet payment service. The debit cards will be cancelled on June 30 and users won’t be able to add money to them after May 1, the company said.
Just a few months ago, the web giant relaunched the Google Wallet app with concentrated focus on online peer-to-peer payments. Seems as if the company will now be turning the Wallet service completely into an online peer-to-peer payment method. The company said they have now launched features that will allow users to the quickly cash out with a debit card and send money using just the recipient’s phone number.
Not just that, the company says that with the added focus onto the online services domain, we can expect many more interesting features in the future.
The company had introduced plastic Wallet debit cards in 2013, before contactless payment services were available. The ulterior motive of the cards was to make payment easier and safer, but evidently, the cards weren’t universal and couldn’t replicate or replace all other cards a person owned.
Here’s what the company had to say in the announcement:
Dear Wallet Card users,
After careful consideration, we’ve decided that we’ll no longer support the Wallet Card as of June 30. Moving forward, we want to focus on making it easier than ever to send and receive money with the Google Wallet app
Last fall, we introduced the new Google Wallet app as a first step in that direction. We’ve added the ability to quickly cash out with a debit card and send money using just the recipient’s phone number—and we’re not stopping there. We’re hard at work on new features, so keep an eye out for those in the coming months.
If you’re interested in finding a replacement for your Wallet Card, both American Express and Simple offer debit accounts with similar features, including a card. Plus, we’ve teamed up with them so that Wallet Card users will get an added bonus after signing up.
As we wind down support for the Wallet Card, we want to thank you—cardholders, early adopters, and payment pioneers—for your feedback along the way. We’re excited to continue enhancing Google Wallet to give you the best possible experience when paying friends and family.
If you have questions, check out our FAQ below. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to contact us.
—The Google Wallet Team
