Drug chain Rite Aid Corp. yesterday said it began accepting MasterCard PayPass contactless payments to quicken transactions and add a convenient method of payment.

In addition to traditional magnetic-stripe payment cards, Rite Aid will accept MasterCard PayPass at its check-out counters in 3,800 of its nearly 5,000 stores.

To use the system, shoppers tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card or device on the PayPass reader at the check-out. Customers don't have to sign receipts for purchases under $25.

According to MasterCard, there are nearly 37 million MasterCard PayPass cards and devices in use in 24 countries, and PayPass is currently accepted globally at more than 122,000 merchant locations.

Rite Aid operates approximately 5,000 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.