Sends launches Mastercard-powered virtual card that delivers immediate payment access with zero fees, targeting growing demand for digital-first banking
Europe is racing towards a cashless future. Card payments now make up 57% of all personal transactions in the eurozone, with contactless payments alone growing 13.2% year-over-year to reach 25.8 billion transactions worth €0.7 trillion.
Sends is responding to this shift with its new Virtual Debit Card – a digital Mastercard that’s ready to use the moment you create it. No waiting for plastic to arrive in the post. No extra fees. Just instant access to global payments.
The demand for digital payments is exploding. Total non-cash payments in the eurozone increased by 8.6% in 2024, reaching 77.6 billion transactions worth €116.9 trillion. As of 2025, globally, 70% of all personal transactions are now digital. PwC projects cashless payment volumes will rise over 80% through 2025, approaching 1.9 trillion transactions worldwide. This is not a gradual trend; it is a rapid transformation.
Instant issuance, global reach
Sends’ Virtual Debit Card functions identically to traditional cards but exists purely digitally. Users receive a 16-digit card number, expiry date, and CVV code stored securely within the Sends app.
Key benefits include:
- Instant access: Your card is ready to use seconds after you create it. Perfect for urgent purchases or travel bookings.
- Global acceptance: As a Mastercard, it works in over 210 countries. Great exchange rates too, with no hidden international fees.
- Enhanced security: No physical card means no theft, loss, or card skimming. You can freeze the card instantly if something goes wrong.
- Transparent pricing: No monthly charges or hidden fees; included with every Sends account.
- Mobile-first: Your phone becomes your wallet.
Trust underpins adoption. Mastercard research shows 68% of consumers trust Mastercard-branded digital payment methods. Two-thirds of online shoppers say Mastercard branding increases their confidence in new payment solutions.
For merchants, that trust has measurable value. Studies show e-commerce retailers see conversion rates increase by up to 35% when offering recognised, trusted payment methods.
Virtual cards are inherently more secure than physical cards, and Sends strengthens this with additional layers of protection. Customers benefit from real-time fraud monitoring with instant alerts and can freeze or unfreeze their card in seconds through the app. Suspicious transactions are safeguarded with 3D Secure authentication, while tokenisation ensures that merchants never see the real card number. On top of this, Mastercard’s Zero Liability policy protects users against any unauthorised use.
Simple onboarding
Getting started takes minutes:
- Download the Sends app from the App Store or Google Play
- Open your account with quick identity verification
- Create your virtual card instantly within the app
- Start spending immediately online or add the card to your mobile wallet
The entire process is digital. No paperwork, no waiting, no branch visits required.
The future of payments
Virtual cards represent more than convenience—they’re becoming essential infrastructure for digital commerce. As contactless payments continue to grow at double-digit rates, having instant access to secure payment methods becomes increasingly crucial.
Sends’ virtual card addresses real pain points: long wait times for physical cards, security concerns with online shopping, and expensive international transaction fees.
The Sends Virtual Debit Card is available today across all individual account plans. Users can create their virtual card immediately through the Sends mobile app, available for free on iOS and Android.
With Europe rushing towards a cashless society and global digital payments set to nearly double by 2025, Sends is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation.
“We’re not just following trends – we’re anticipating what users need next,” concludes the Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova. “Instant, secure, global payments aren’t the future anymore. They’re today’s reality.”
Download the Sends app to create your instant virtual card today. Available on App Store and Google Play.
