Many US consumers face complications, challenges or adversity when carrying out purchases because the name on their debit card doesn’t match “who they truly are.”
T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced (on January 31, 2022) True Name® by Mastercard® for T-Mobile MONEY, allowing all clients, including transgender and non-binary customers, to be their “authentic self” with their preferred name shown on their T-Mobile MONEY debit card.
This follows “a move from the Un-carrier to enable T-Mobile, Sprint, Metro by T-Mobile and Magenta prepaid customers to have their chosen name displayed on Caller ID.”
Jon Freier, T-Mobile’s President, Consumer Group, stated:
“Adding True Name to T-Mobile MONEY is a simple yet incredibly impactful shift that gives customers who want to show their true self the ability to do just that — and a natural extension of T-Mobile’s belief that everyone deserves to feel included, valued and empowered. Nearly a third of people who have shown an ID with a name that did not match their gender identity have been denied service or had other negative experiences. That shouldn’t happen and this new option will ensure customers don’t face those same challenges when using their debit card.”
Cheryl Guerin, EVP, Global Brand Strategy and Innovation at Mastercard, remarked:
“Mastercard’s True Name feature brings incredibly meaningful, everyday impact to our cardholders in the transgender and non-binary communities. It’s fantastic to have our partners recognize the value this program brings and join our inclusion mission. We’re so proud to use the power of the Mastercard network to support and empower this community, and make a true difference in peoples’ lives.”
As noted in the update, it can be a long and expensive process to get those personal IDs and documents updated — “65% of transgender Americans say it costs $100 or more to legally change their name, often a first step towards updating IDs and bank cards.”
T-Mobile says that it “makes it easy for customers to be themselves.”
New and existing T-Mobile MONEY customers can now “request a new debit card with their chosen name through the T-Mobile MONEY app or website.”
For more details on this update, check here.