UK fintech Osper to launch Nickelodeon-branded debit cards
Osper, the parent-managed debit card for young people, and ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK today announced a partnership to bring a range of Nickelodeon properties including SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon Slime, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and JoJo Siwa to Osper’s prepaid debit cards for under-18s. The companies will also work together on a range of co-branded financial education assets for children in the UK and undertake promotion of both services across Nickelodeon TV and digital platforms.
Cash payments are decreasing everywhere, with contactless now representing the dominant form of payment on the high street. However, young people risk being financially excluded from this shift if they are limited to using cash. Osper works by allowing young people to have their own contactless prepaid debit card, which can be instantly topped-up, monitored and managed by parents via a user-friendly app. Osper also automatically blocks payments for age restricted services and gives the option to turn off online spending, giving parents full control of their children’s spending.
“While young people are at the forefront of many of the world’s positive changes, they too face real challenges from the fast pace of change around them,” said Venetia Davie, Vice President, ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK & Ireland. “We believe passionately in supporting today’s children and this partnership is part of that commitment. We’re delighted to be working with Osper to use the reach and engagement of globally recognised properties such as SpongeBob Squarepants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to help give young people the education and tools necessary to deal with money in an increasingly contactless and digital world.”
“By the age of 8, two things are happening – children are already learning lifelong financial behaviours, and they’re enthused, informed and entertained by world class content from Nickelodeon,” said Giovanni Santini, CEO of Osper. “At Osper we have always been focused on giving young people access to payments that are secure and safe – both online and contactless – combined with the knowledge and education needed to understand money and finance. This partnership will be transformative in increasing the accessibility of young people to develop positive financial habits that will shape their view of money for the rest of their lives. We’re proud to be working with not just a world-leading kids’ entertainment brand, but with a team who share the same values and ambition.”
“Young people today are digital natives and most take a ‘digital first’ approach to whatever they are doing, and this is no different for payments. So it is more important than ever that they have the right tools to stay in control of their money and make payments safely, securely and conveniently,” said Edoardo Volta, Head of Fintech UK & Ireland at Mastercard.
The partnership will see Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products working together to deliver co-branded educational materials to help children understand money and develop positive financial habits. Osper customers will also be able to apply for their own prepaid debit card featuring some of Nickelodeon’s most iconic kids’ brands such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon Slime and JoJo Siwa. Reaching over 13 million homes in the UK, Nickelodeon will promote these co-branded offers across its TV, online and social channels.
