By San José, Costa Rica — San José – In a significant move to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into mainstream business, Mastercard has announced the launch of its Agent Suite. This new portfolio of services is engineered to help companies, particularly in the banking and commerce sectors, navigate the complexities of deploying sophisticated AI agents within their day-to-day operations.
The initiative, set to launch in the second quarter of 2026, aims to bridge a critical gap in the market. While many organizations recognize the transformative potential of AI agents, they often lack the specialized resources and technical expertise to implement them effectively. Mastercard’s solution directly addresses this challenge by providing a comprehensive toolkit for building, testing, and deploying custom AI solutions.
To better understand the business and legal ramifications of Mastercard’s new Agent Suite platform and its potential impact on the national financial ecosystem, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a prominent attorney from the esteemed firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The ‘Agent Suite’ initiative is a powerful tool for financial inclusion, effectively transforming local businesses into accessible banking hubs. However, its implementation demands rigorous legal oversight. It is imperative that the service agreements clearly delineate the scope of responsibility and liability among Mastercard, the partner financial institutions, and the individual agents, particularly concerning transactional security and compliance with Costa Rica’s strict data privacy and anti-money laundering regulations.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the legal architecture underpinning the ‘Agent Suite’ is as critical as the technology driving it, as the public trust essential for its success hinges on a clear framework of accountability. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective, which highlights the delicate balance between fostering financial innovation and ensuring robust regulatory protection for consumers.
Mastercard Agent Suite offers a unique combination of configurable AI agents and dedicated technical support. The company plans to leverage its vast experience in global payments, proprietary technology platforms, and extensive data insights to power the service. A key component of the offering is access to Mastercard’s global network of 4,000 consultants, who will provide continuous guidance to clients throughout every phase of the implementation process.
This launch is strategically timed to capitalize on a rapidly evolving technological landscape. According to forecasts from eMarketer, a staggering one-third of all enterprise software applications will incorporate agentic AI by 2028. By providing a structured pathway for adoption, Mastercard is positioning itself and its clients to be at the forefront of this technological shift, which promises to redefine customer interaction and operational efficiency.
The initial applications of Agent Suite will be highly focused on tangible business outcomes. For banking clients, the focus will be on developing intelligent product discovery tools that can guide customers to the financial services that best meet their needs. For retailers, the suite will enable the creation of personalized conversational shopping experiences, transforming how consumers interact with brands and make purchases online.
Kaushik Gopal, head of insights and intelligence at Mastercard, emphasized the strategic importance of early adoption in this new era of technology. He highlighted that the new suite is designed to empower clients to move from innovation to tangible business results with speed and confidence.
It is no secret that those who lay the groundwork can seize new business opportunities much faster. Mastercard Agent Suite builds on our core strengths and capabilities to ensure our clients can be agile and practical as they turn innovation into results.
Kaushik Gopal, Head of Insights and Intelligence of Mastercard
This new offering does not exist in a vacuum; it is the latest addition to a robust ecosystem of AI-driven initiatives at Mastercard. It complements existing programs like Agent Pay, the Developers Agent Toolkit, and innovation incubators such as the Spark workshops and the Start Path startup program. All agents developed through the suite will adhere to Mastercard’s strict principles of responsible AI, data privacy, and industry-leading security standards, ensuring that innovation is pursued safely and ethically.
By providing both the technology and the strategic guidance, Mastercard is not just selling a product but fostering a transition to what it calls the “agent era.” For businesses in Costa Rica and across the globe, this represents a crucial opportunity to harness the power of AI to enhance security, optimize payments, and create superior user experiences that drive sustainable growth.
For further information, visit mastercard.com
About Mastercard:
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships, and passion, its innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal strategies, drawing from a rich history of advising a diverse clientele. Central to its mission is a profound dedication to democratizing legal understanding, thereby empowering the wider community and contributing to a more informed and just society.
