Card & Payments Ecosystems
Cards remain the backbone of consumer and business payments.
We help banks, fintechs and telecom operators grow card portfolios and acceptance, from new card programmes to scheme strategy and acquiring.
What holds card growth back
Strategy and design for card issuing, acquiring and card programmes: debit, prepaid, credit and commercial cards, tokenisation and card scheme strategy.
Many issued cards stay inactive.
Acceptance is limited outside the major cities.
Scheme, processing and partner costs erode margins.
How we help
We help banks, fintechs and telecom operators grow card portfolios and acceptance, from new card programmes to scheme strategy and acquiring.
Issuing strategy
Debit, prepaid, credit and commercial card portfolios built around customer segments and usage.
Acquiring strategy
Merchant acceptance, SoftPOS and QR programmes, and acquiring economics.
Card programme design
Product features, pricing, rewards and lifecycle management.
Tokenisation and digital cards
Virtual cards and tokens for mobile wallets and e-commerce.
Scheme and processor strategy
Card scheme selection, processor options and commercial negotiations.
What you receive
Deliverables are tailored to the scope of each engagement.
- Card growth strategy
- Product and programme design
- Acquiring and acceptance plan
- Business case
- Scheme and processor recommendation
Our approach
Every engagement follows a clear path, scoped to what the client needs. Some clients bring us in for a single phase; others ask us to stay through launch.
- 01Diagnose
- 02Design
- 03Mobilise
- 04Launch & scale
Frequently asked questions
How can a bank increase active card usage?
By linking cards to salary accounts and digital onboarding, issuing instant virtual cards, enabling tokenised mobile payments and growing acceptance where customers shop.
What is the difference between issuing and acquiring?
Issuing means providing cards to customers. Acquiring means enabling merchants to accept card payments and settling the funds to them.
Should we start with debit, prepaid or credit cards?
It depends on your customers, funding and risk appetite. Debit and prepaid cards often build usage quickly, while credit cards need more mature risk capabilities.
Can you help with card scheme negotiations?
Yes. We support scheme and processor selection and the commercial discussions that come with them.
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Explore this practiceLet's talk about your project
Tell us what you are working on and we will come back with a view on how we can help.
info@mercanera.com