MasterCard's New Update Will Let You Close Your Bar Tab via App

Have you ever accidentally left your credit card at the bar after a big night out? Or waited 20 minutes just to close the tab? MasterCard is attempting to solve these problems with Open Tab, a new feature it'll be adding to its current mobile paying service, Qkr. Starting this summer, users in the US and UK will be able to open, manage and close their bar tabs from their mobile devices.

So, how does it work? Within the app, you'll be given be given a table number, which you'll also give to the bartender when ordering drinks. At the end of the night, users can split up the bill, pay for a single drink or grab an entire round. It's all pre-authorized, too, so if customers forget to settle the bill, the tab will be automatically be closed at the end of the night.

The service, similar to Venmo, will be free for users but will cost bars and restaurants a fee — the same fee they already pay to process credit cards. While this will no doubt free up some time and energy for servers and bartenders at larger bars, those running smaller bars may not see as much of a need for this type of service.

H/T: NBC Washington