MASTERCARD it in the journey , understand what it wanted to do , and use our tools to make it happen ,” he adds . Abrahams is clear that COVID hasn ’ t really altered Mastercard ’ s approach to delivery at all , merely accelerated and refined it for a new era . The promise of fintech isn ’ t just the optimisation of the status quo but also the potential to create a better and fairer world . Mastercard , he says , doesn ’ t just subscribe to the ‘ finance for good ’ philosophy ; it lives and breathes it . “ Financial inclusion is at the very core of what we do , and that ’ s being clearly pursued from our Executive Chairman Ajay Banga and all the way down through the organisation .” With millions in the UK alone still unbanked and underserved , the global scale of the challenge is easy to extrapolate . Partnering closely with communities in the UK , such as the Emerging Payments Association ( EPA ), Inclusion Foundation , and the Inclusive Economy Partnership , Mastercard is dedicated to participating in initiatives that will lead to a more connected world .
As he looks ahead to the rest of 2021 and beyond , Abrahams is certain that fostering financial inclusion , sustainability ( Mastercard launched the Priceless Planet Coalition in 2020 ), and supporting small businesses (“ the backbone of the UK economy ”) will form important focus points of development for the company . Combined with an ongoing drive towards digitisation , innovation , and partnership , he says that Mastercard will “ continue being the partner of choice for fintech ” and “ continue pushing the boundaries of payments , both internally within MasterCard and externally .”