Mastercard expands First-Party Trust program to Europe

Mastercard has announced the expansion of its First-Party Trust program to the European market, with a full rollout expected by July 2027. The initiative is designed to help merchants and banks distinguish between actual fraud and legitimate transactions that are contested by the cardholders themselves.

As digital commerce grows, Mastercard projects that global transactions resulting in chargeback requests will rise from an estimated 261 million in 2025 to 324 million by 2028. The program facilitates the sharing of evidence—such as purchase details, delivery confirmation, and payment authentication—between merchants and issuing banks during both the transaction and the dispute process.

By establishing clearer criteria for analyzing disputes, the program aims to reduce unnecessary refunds and provide protections for merchants, including small businesses, who meet specific sharing requirements. Following its launch in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific, the program is also slated to reach Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in October 2026.