Beginning today, M&T Bank customers can add their M&T Bank debit or credit card to Android Pay, the convenient way to pay with an Android phone. The free new service from Google allows customers to use their Android phone (running 4.4 or higher) to pay for purchases at more than one million stores across the U.S.

M&T Bank customers can load their M&T Bank debit or credit cards to Android Pay to make payments at merchants that accept contactless payments. Customers do not need to have their card with them to make a payment – purchases can be made by simply unlocking their phone and placing it over the terminal.

"For smartphone users, we understand their device can assist in many aspects of their day-to-day lives, including being their digital wallet," said Paris Roselli, M&T Bank Senior Vice President of Digital and Telephone Banking. "Android Pay is a great complement to our credit and debit card products, and this enhancement reflects our efforts to invest in services that improve the customer experience."

Android Pay is supported by an industry-standard technology called "tokenization," where a unique virtual account number is generated and stored on the Android device. The virtual account number provides an extra layer of security because the card number is not stored on the phone, or transmitted when a payment is made.

Android Pay is the latest in a series of digital services enhancements from M&T Bank to make managing finances more convenient. In 2014, M&T Bank launched Apple Pay, a new M&T Online Banking channel  and M&T InfoPLU$ for Mobile and Tablet, an application for commercial banking customers, as well as redesigned the M&T Mobile Banking and M&T Mobile Banking for Business applications.

For more information on Android Pay, visit mtb.com/digitalwallet.

About M&T BankM&T Bank Corp. is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.