The company that strives to be America’s most-loved pharmacy is the latest retailer to get deeper into the banking business. Courtesy of a partnership with InComm Payments, Walgreens announced today that its bank account and debit card product, Scarlet, is now live. The new card is powered by Mastercard, issued by MetaBank, and available exclusively at more than 9,000 Walgreens locations in the U.S., as well as online and on the Walgreens mobile app.
In addition to credit and debit solutions, Scarlet offers Walgreen Cash rewards, and personal financial planning and payment tools ranging from early direct deposit and billpay to mobile check capture and money transfer to other Scarlet accountholders. Maria Smith, VP of Payments & Financial Services at Walgreens, put the new offering in the context of other financial services initiatives from the company, including the Walgreens mobile wallet, remittances, ATMs, third party banking services, and the company’s “recently launched myWalgreens Credit Card.”
“With a focus on our customers’ health and wellbeing,” Smith said in a statement “Walgreens is pleased to expand our financial services offerings with Scarlet, and further expand the broad spectrum of financial solutions that are accessible to the customers, patients, and communities we serve.”
The latest evolution in the 12-year partnership between Walgreens and InComm was announced back in the spring, and was heralded as part of the drugstore chain’s “alternative profit strategy” and a “broader initiative” to offer a wider range of services to its customers. The collaboration between the two companies, the latter a Finovate alum since 2011, also supported the relaunch of Walgreens’ branded gift card program, including boosting distribution of Walgreens’ gift card offering – physical and digital – across B2B, loyalty, rewards, and e-commerce channels.
“We’re honored that Walgreens has selected InComm Payments’ financial services solutions to provide further benefits to its customers and communities,” InComm Payments President Stefan Happ said earlier this year when the collaboration was announced. “This new product offering will establish Walgreens as a destination for financial services, building on Walgreens’ legacy as a one-stop shop for pharmacy and convenience.”
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