Google and Samsung are among the first firms to back MasterCard’s Digital Enablement Express programme, intended to make it easier for banks to get their cards into mobile wallets.

Speculation has surrounded when Google will unleash Android Pay but its arrival is thought imminent. Meanwhile Samsung Pay launched last month in South Korea and is due for a US debut later in September.

Both firms are numbered among MasterCard’s first partners for the new programme, which is intended to “expedite” the process of digitisation and tokenisation for MasterCard accounts.

The first issuers named in support of the scheme are Capital One, Fifth Third Bank and KeyBank.

The idea is to provide card issuers with immediate access to Samsung Pay and Android Pay and so enable them to offer its mobile payments to consumers faster, and at greater scale.