Wells Fargo to Support Isis Mobile Wallet

Wells Fargo & Co. will link its Visa consumer credit card to the Isis Mobile Wallet in what it calls the "first phase" of an agreement with the payments venture, giving Isis a prominent new supporter shortly after the wallet's nationwide launch.

Wells Fargo did not indicate when this pilot phase would end or what the next phase would add. Isis, a venture of AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, enables payments with certain Android smartphones equipped with Near Field Communication chips.

Isis has two other issuer partners, American Express and JPMorgan Chase, which participated in its earlier tests and remained on board when the wallet launched nationwide in November. Two other test partners, Barclays and Capital One, decided to not participate in the national launch, but left the door open to work with Isis in the future.

Isis officials say they will continue to pursue more merchants and banks to support the mobile payments system.

Consumers who wish to use Isis but do not have a card issued by its partner banks can link a credit or debit card to an Amex Serve digital wallet, which is integrated with the Isis app.

Wells Fargo is committed to helping its customers "make payments when, where and how they want," Peter Ho, manager of digital payments for Wells Fargo's Consumer Financial Services group, states in a Dec.12 press release. "Our customers lead mobile lives and their ability to pay for things should reflect that fact."

Wells Fargo plans to study consumer behavior during its pilot with Isis, Ho says.

Consumers with one of the more than 50 Isis-ready smartphones available from AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile can request an enhanced SIM card from their wireless carrier and download the Isis Mobile Wallet for free from Google Play. 

"Wells Fargo is among the most innovative brands in the country and we are pleased to introduce Isis Mobile Wallet to their credit card customers," Ryan Hughes, chief marketing officer for Isis, states in the release.

First Data Corp. will serve as Wells Fargo's trusted service manager to deliver card information onto the mobile device, the bank says.

Consumers making purchases with the Isis Mobile Wallet are protected by the bank's zero liability program if their Wells Fargo credit card is lost, stolen or used without authorization and cardholders promptly notify Wells Fargo, the bank says. Cardholders can also freeze the Isis Mobile Wallet by calling their mobile carrier.