Open Payments has changed how people board public transit, making it easier to ride with a simple tap of a bank card, phone, or smartwatch—no app download or transit card required. It’s quick. It’s intuitive.
But for all the convenience Open Payments delivers, it can fall short of what agencies and riders really need for a fully inclusive experience. Some Open Payments solutions do not offer a mechanism to link fare discounts to a contactless bank card. As a result, riders eligible for concessions, such as youth, senior, or low-income fares, are unable to receive their discounts when using contactless bank cards and are effectively excluded from using contactless payment methods as their primary way to pay for transit.
Other features like trip history and account management also require account linking. Without it, these benefits are inaccessible, and the rider experience becomes fragmented across fare media. This creates inconsistency for riders and limits rider visibility and flexibility for agencies.
To truly deliver a rider-first Open Payments experience, consistency across all fare media must become the norm.
Riders today are used to seamless digital experiences, from retail checkout to subscription services—and they expect the same from public transit. What was once considered advanced is now expected: a system that not only enables tap-to-pay convenience but also recognizes riders, applies the right fare, and gives them access to their travel data.
Whether tapping a smart card, scanning a barcode in an app, or using a bank card from a digital wallet, riders should receive the same benefits.
That means:
When riders using EMV cards are excluded from these benefits, the experience becomes inconsistent, trust erodes and adoption can suffer.
Account linking lets riders use the card they already carry—and feel recognized and included.
Account linking closes the gap between contactless EMV and account-based features. Riders who already use a transit app don’t have to start over when they switch to tapping with a bank card. They can simply add the card to their existing account, retaining their history, preferences, and entitlements. No fragmentation. No confusion.
For agencies, that continuity is critical. It offers a unified view of rider behavior across payment methods, supporting smarter planning, better policy design, and more responsive customer service.
Account Linking also unlocks new operational advantages:
It’s a meaningful enhancement that expands the reach and value of Open Payments—unlocking more equitable, consistent rider experiences across all fare media.
Our recently launched Open Payments Account Linking feature is now available to all agencies using our Open Payments solution. With this feature, contactless EMV cards can be fully integrated into the account-based ticketing ecosystem.
If your agency is exploring Open Payments or preparing to launch, account linking is a key feature to consider when choosing a fare collection partner.
Book a demo with our team to explore how Open Payments Account Linking can help your agency deliver a more seamless, equitable rider experience.