SMRT and Mastercard gamify contactless payments on public transport with rewards campaign
Singapore’s public transport operator SMRT’s media arm Stellar Ace is working with payments firm Mastercard in a campaign to encourage commuters to use contactless bank cards when traveling on public transport.
The Wink+ points earned can be redeemed for public transport fare rebates or direct cash discounts
This comes as the monthly number of trips made by TransitLink’s SimplyGo (TL SimplyGo) users constituted 22% of all monthly adult trips made on public transport.
TL SimplyGo is an initiative launched by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore to allow commuters to tap their contactless cards or mobile on the bus fare readers or train fare gate.
The campaign will see commuters who use a contactless bank card for fare payment from 1 December 2021 to 18 January 2022, earn reward points (known as Wink+ points) when they register an account with the TL SimplyGo app and add their bank card used for public transport.
The Wink+ points earned can be redeemed for public transport fare rebates or direct cash discounts at participating merchants' outlets. The reward points can also be redeemed as donations to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund to help children from modest-income families with their school-related expenses.
Users who add a Mastercard debit, credit, or prepaid card to their TL SimplyGo account will gain access to 100 more exclusive virtual gates for more points.
Deborah Heng, country manager for Singapore at Mastercard, said: “Since implementing contactless solutions for an open-loop transit system in Singapore, commuters have been enjoying a much simpler and smoother commute with a Mastercard in hand. As a longstanding partner of LTA and TransitLink, Mastercard is pleased to jointly promote SimplyGo again, by partnering with Stellar Ace this time to encourage commuters to contribute their WINK+ points to The Straits Times School Pocket Money fund in a simple, fuss-free way."
“Mastercard works to make a difference in communities across the world to do something priceless, and with the year-end festivities underway, this initiative aims to remind everyone to reflect on the spirit of love and selflessness by showing their support and lending a helping hand.”