Google is launching a physical Google Wallet debit card in an attempt to drive more interest in its mobile payments service.

Subscribers can use the new card to pay for good in stores or withdraw cash at ATMs with funds from their Google Wallet account.

The search giant hopes the move will attract more subscriber interest and so generate more data about their spending habits for advertising.

Subscribers currently make payments from their Google Wallet accounts using their NFC-based smartphone although this service has grown slowly to date.

Google previously offered a virtual prepaid card under its own name but decided to discontinue it about a year ago when it moved to a cloud-based approach for the wallet.

Although the new release is a debit card, subscribers must maintain a balance in their Google Wallet account from where funds are drawn. Users can top up the account from either their bank account or via a credit card, although the latter route has a 2.9 per cent transaction fee attached.

Additional features of the card include instant notifications sent to a subscriber’s phone. There are no annual or monthly fees.

The new card is backed by Bancorp.