The "True Name" cards are aimed at transgender and non-binary customers. (Pexels)

Mastercard has announced that it will allow transgender and non-binary customers to use their chosen name on debit and credit cards without a legal name change.

The company will introduce the “True Name” cards to protect people whose legal names misrepresent their gender identities, and who face embarrassment or even harassment because of this.

Mastercard said in a statement: “We are working with partners to create a product, as well as a sensitive and private process free of personal questions, that will allow for true names, not deadnames, to appear on cards without the requirement of a legal name change. This will ease a major pain point for the transgender and non-binary community.”

According to the company, almost a third of customers whose legal name misrepresents their identity have had negative experiences when showing identification, for example being denied services or being subjected to harassment or attack.

Banks will have to approve the use of “True Name” cards, and they could cause some problems collecting credit card rewards or in situations where government-issued identification is required.

Mastercard said they want to alleviate pain for the LGBT+ community

Matt Schulz, chief industry analyst at CompareCards.com, told Washington Examiner: “If the person’s legal name doesn’t match the name on their credit card, it could potentially cause some confusion if a merchant asks the customer for their ID. That doesn’t happen nearly as often as it once did, but it does happen.”

However, Schulz also said that the product was “one whose time has likely come,” and that he suspected the idea was “here to stay.”

“We are allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, which means if we see a need or if this community is not being served in the most inclusive way, we want to be a force for change to help address and alleviate unnecessary pain points,” said Mastercard chief diversity and inclusion officer Randall Tucker in a statement.

“This translates not only for our Mastercard employee community but for our cardholders and the communities in which we operate more broadly. Our vision is that every card should be for everyone.”