Going to the movies is no longer just about popcorn and seats. Starting July 30th, Mexican moviegoers can turn their everyday purchases into points for the next showing thanks to the new Openbank Mexico credit card in partnership with Cinépolis and Mastercard. This is the first co-branded card from the movie theater chain and Santander's digital bank, designed so that every expense, inside or outside the theater, earns rewards in the Club Cinépolis program.
The card, which is applied for entirely through the Openbank app, has no annual fee and promises a response in minutes . As executives explained during the presentation, the product is aimed directly at the more than 7,5 million monthly active members of Club Cinépolis, many of them young people between 18 and 35 years old seeking their first formal experience with credit. “We want to digitize consumers and offer a simple, easy, and transparent solution,” said Juan José Galnares, CEO of Openbank Mexico.
What benefits does the Cinépolis by Openbank card offer?
The value proposition is based on a tiered rewards system. For every purchase made at Cinépolis theaters, customers can earn up to 16% back in Cinépolis Club points , depending on their membership level (Fan, Fanatic, or Super Fanatic). It also includes a weekly 2-for-1 offer on tickets to any theater in the chain, a benefit that can be used every weekend.
Beyond the movie theater, the card also offers rewards. Online purchases earn 2% points, while in-store purchases earn 1% . This way, activities like doing the weekly grocery shopping, paying for dinner, or buying clothes online become a source of entertainment. Miguel Mier, General Director of Operations at Cinépolis, summarized it this way: “We want to be part of our customers’ daily lives, turning everyday spending into a gateway to entertainment.”
An alliance that seeks to promote financial inclusion
Openbank Mexico arrived in the country just over a year ago and already has more than one million customers. With this card, Santander's digital bank aims to accelerate its penetration among young people, who have traditionally had less access to financial products. The card has no annual fee and allows users to manage all transactions from their mobile phones , eliminating the barriers of physical branches and extensive paperwork.
For its part, Cinépolis sees this alliance as a way to deepen its digitalization strategy. According to data shared by the company, last year digital transactions represented only 20% of the total in its theaters; today they already exceed 40% . The goal is to reach 50% or even 60% by 2027. “There is a voracious appetite for digital,” stated Miguel Mier, who added that the card does not replace Club Cinépolis, but rather complements it.
Security and technology: tokenization as a pillar
Mastercard plays a key role in the operation. Jorge Alfaro, Senior Vice President of Financial Institutions at Mastercard Mexico, explained that the company is working to make payments “virtually invisible” through tokenization and artificial intelligence . Tokenization replaces the actual card numbers with a unique code for each transaction, reducing the risk of fraud. Mastercard has set a goal of tokenizing 100% of payments by 2030, and this partnership already implements that technology.
The launch also reflects a global trend: digital banks and entertainment brands are joining forces to attract customers where consumption habits already exist. Openbank isn't just launching a card; it's using cinema as a gateway to a credit relationship . The 7,5 million members of Club Cinépolis, who visit the theater at least once a month, are the ideal target audience for a financial product designed to be their first formal credit experience.
Availability and application process
The card will be available starting July 30, 2026. It can be requested directly through the Openbank Mexico app, without needing to visit a branch. The process is 100% digital, and the response arrives in minutes , according to bank officials. In a second phase, the option to personalize the card's design will be offered.
Those interested must be members of Club Cinépolis (registration is free) and meet Openbank's credit requirements. Although the specific approval criteria and the product's APR have not yet been published, executives expressed optimism about its reception. "This is a very important project for us; it's the first co-branded card we have at Openbank and the first with Cinépolis," emphasized Juan José Galnares.
The Cinépolis by Openbank credit card arrives at a time when the competition to attract new customers is no longer just between banks, but also between entertainment companies, airlines, and digital platforms. By transforming everyday spending into movie rewards, the product turns every purchase into an opportunity to continue enjoying the magic of cinema , without having to wait for the weekend to collect points. The goal is clear: to make cinema a way to access the financial system, and to make digital banking feel as familiar as the movie theater itself.