Top Card Issuing Service Providers to Choose From in 2025

Payment cards are a classic tool for consumers to conduct a variety of financial interactions, from transactions with family and friends to paying for products and services. Only around a decade ago, the privilege of issuing cards was reserved only for official banks. Today, things are changing quickly, and any FinTech business can become a credit card provider or partner with one. 

Offering your own branded card to customers is a great way to increase loyalty and maximize business success. Market analysis suggests that this service benefits all kinds of digital banking platforms and businesses by: 

• Increasing brand loyalty. 
• Expanding the company’s global presence. 
• Diversifying the service portfolio. 
• Enabling more effective customer differentiation. 

With all these benefits available to all kinds of financial businesses today, the modern card issuing platforms market is expected to grow from $1.2 billion in 2024 to over $2.8 billion in 2029. These dynamics suggest a 134% increase within only five years, which is a strong driver for including card issuing solutions in your business strategy. 

If you are currently in the process of developing or expanding your FinTech business, instant card issuance can be the sure path to follow. In this article, we talk about the principles of credit card issuance, examine the main types of cards you may offer to customers, and review the 10 best credit card issuing companies you may work with. 

How Do Card Issuing Companies Work? 

As its name suggests, the card issuing company takes responsibility for the issuance of credit, debit, prepaid, and other cards that it disburses to its partners’ clients. These cards operate using one of the approved and licensed networks, such as Visa or Mastercard and can be used in line with the set terms (e.g., physical or virtual card availability, ATM withdrawals, commissions and fees, etc.). Thus, card issuers act on behalf of credit card companies and provide cards to account holders in their business ecosystems. 

To enable card issuance, the company has to receive direct access to major card processing networks, like UnionPay or AmEx. Joining such a network, or scheme, is an expensive and time-demanding process, which not every business can afford. Thus, a shortcut to card issuance with the help of qualifying intermediaries is partnering with one of the well-established companies to get branded credit or debit cards supported by their systems and operating on their basis. 

Credit Card Networks vs. Credit Card Issuers 

When it comes to card issuance, you may come across networks and issuers. Both types are regarded as credit card companies, and they play vital roles in the payment card ecosystem. Yet, they perform different roles in the financial market. 

• A credit card network processes payments between all participants – customers, merchants, and banks. The best-known global networks include Visa, MasterCard, and AmEx. Essentially, they route data about the transaction from the sender’s bank to the recipient’s bank. There are a few established networks that have accumulated trust and recognition in the global financial market. Thus, no matter who your card issuer is, you will also have a network logo on the card, which tells what network will process your transactions made with the help of this card. 
• A credit card issuer partners with one of the well-known credit card networks to issue cards that will possess the necessary degree of security and compliance with financial regulations. For instance, even if you have a Wise card, it will have a VISA logo on it, meaning that Wise is the card issuer, and Visa is the network that can process your transactions. Card issuers are responsible for issuing cards, managing the cardholders’ accounts, and enabling the supported range of transactions. 

Main Types of Banking Cards 

You can partner with a card issuing platform to offer one or several types of cards to your clients as follows: 

• Credit cards. This card allows clients to borrow money from the system and pay for their products and services with the funds they don’t have in their accounts. Depending on the terms, credit cards usually have a fee-free period, with interest rates added to the debt after that period ends. 
• Debit cards. This type of card enables the usage of funds that a user has on their account. It doesn’t presuppose overdraft and typically gives access only to the balance that the client has added to the account. 
• Prepaid cards. Unlike debit cards that link directly to your bank account, prepaid cards have a separate account and can be used only after depositing some money on them. A common example is a gift card, loaded with a certain sum of money a user can spend in a specific store. 
• Forex cards. Since Fore stands for “foreign exchange,” this type of card is specifically meant for foreign currency deposits and further expenditures during international travel. The currency exchange rate for direct payments with cards in other currencies may be unfair, so Forex cards can help tourists and business travelers avoid the costly currency exchange at every purchase. 
• Charge cards. A specific type of business card that requires monthly replenishing for regular business payments. 
• Secured cards. By using this card, you may build a security deposit on its balance. The card is helpful for credit management. 
• Business cards. These cards are typically linked to business accounts and can be used for various business expenditures, with smart member-wise expenditure tracking. 
• Rewards cards. These may be debit or credit cards but with a lucrative and flexible reward program. By spending money from that card on purchases at the partners’ websites, users receive generous cashback and loyalty points. 
• Co-branded cards. These are banking cards with branded designs, issued for specific brands and giving lucrative bonuses to those who pay for goods and services in that brand’s stores. 

Top 10 Card Issuing Providers 

In the overcrowded market of FinTech payment solutions, one may find it hard to single out the best provider. We’ve compiled a list of top-rated credit card issuers to aid your selection process. 

1. Marqeta 

Headquarters: California, USA 

Year founded: 2010

Regions of presence: North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions 

Key features and services: A scalable, API-based card issuing platform that offers various card types. Easy to integrate with other systems and flexible in customization and usage. 

Pros: 

• API-based card issuance. 
• A high degree of customization. 
• Robust anti-fraud measures. 
• Dynamic spending control features. 

Cons: 

• The company is focused only on cards, with a lack of related services. 
• Only credit, debit, and prepaid cards are available. 

2. Thredd 

Headquarters: London, UK 

Year founded: 2007

Regions of presence: North America and Europe 

Key features and services: Thredd provides physical and virtual cards with customizable designs. It has a user-friendly, intuitive UI and enables swift, trouble-free API integration for businesses. 

Pros: 

• Advanced reporting tools. 
• Detailed analytics for users and administrators. 
• Multiple currencies. 
• Real-time card transactions. 

Cons: 

• Limited geographical coverage. 
• Limited customization options. 

3. Enfuce 

Headquarters: Espoo, Finland 

Year founded: 2016

Regions of presence: Global (mostly Europe) 

Key features and services: This FinTech company provides white-label card issuing and payment processing services. Its modular platform is easy to customize and adjust to your individual business needs. 

Pros: 

• Ready-to-use API integrations. 
• Security and compliance measures.  
• Regulatory compliance assistance for partners. 
• Robust risk management. 
• High level of scalability. 

Cons: 

• Limited geographical coverage (Europe). 
• Costly integrations. 

4. Galileo 

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) 

Year founded: 2000

Regions of presence: North America and Latin America 

Key features and services: An API-driven platform with versatile digital banking solutions. It offers advanced fraud management tools and a variety of card management features. It’s one of the most popular multi-currency card providers in the Americas. 

Pros: 

• Customizable UI. 
• Real-time authorization and settlement. 
• Multi-currency cards and accounts. 
• Innovation-focused team. 

Cons: 

• Steep learning curve. 
• The API documentation is hard to navigate, even for technical specialists. 

5. Adyen 

Headquarters: Amsterdam, the Netherlands 

Year founded: 2006 

Regions of presence: Global 

Key features and services: Adyen is a card issuing company with global coverage and full control over the payment flow, which helps businesses reduce transaction fees. A long list of payment methods and currencies are supported. 

Pros: 

• Global coverage 
• Real-time transaction processing 
• Advanced fraud prevention and risk management tools 
• Ready-to-use APIs 

Cons: 

• Wide variety of features makes onboarding lengthy 
• Non-transparent pricing structure. 

6. Fiserv 

Headquarters: Wisconsin, USA 

Year founded: 1984

Regions of presence: North America, Europe (40+ countries) 

Key features and services: Fiserv is one of the longest-standing card issuers in the US market, offering mobile banking, payments, and card processing services. It serves companies in many industries and offers numerous card types. 

Pros: 

• 24/7 customer support. 
• Attractive cashback and point-based reward programs. 
• Advanced cardholder self-service tools. 

Cons: 

• High integration and use costs. 
• Lack of business intelligence and visualization tools. 

7. Wallester 

Headquarters: Tallinn, Estonia 

Year founded: 2018 

Regions of presence: Europe 

Key features and services: The provider is focused on the EU market and caters to businesses on favorable terms. Its partners can issue up to 500 virtual cards and an unlimited number of physical cards on a free subscription plan without cumbersome registration or issuance fees. 

Pros: 

• Ability to create branded payment cards. 
• Physical and virtual card issuance. 
• Real-time transactions. 
• Customizable card programs and terms. 

Cons: 

• Limited geographical coverage 
• A small set of fraud detection and prevention tools. 

8. NymCard 

Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, the UAE 

Year founded: 2018

Regions of presence: the MENA region 

Key features and services: NymCard supports virtual and physical card issuance capabilities and handles card transactions in real-time. It implements advanced fraud management tools and has robust compliance protocols. 

Pros: 

• Strong innovation focus. 
• Extensive partner network. 
• Card management APIs. 
• Support of multiple currencies. 
• Integration with digital wallets. 

Cons: 

• Present-day focus on the MENA region limits the card issuer’s geographic coverage. 
• Cumbersome integration capabilities for non-banking infrastructures. 

9. Moss 

Headquarters: Berlin, Germany 

Year founded: 2019 

Regions of presence: Europe (Germany and the Netherlands) 

Key features and services: The company specializes in corporate credit cards with flexible, customizable terms and high overdraft limits. Physical and virtual cards are available. 

Pros: 

• Credit card provision. 
• Secure and convenient purchases. 
• Real-time transaction processing. 

Cons: 

• Limited coverage (Germany and the Netherlands). 
• Small customer base (only about 20,000 cards issued to date). 

10. Bond 

Headquarters: New York, USA 

Year founded: 2019

Regions of presence: North America 

Key features and services: BOND offers a one-stop solution for all financial needs of businesses, with robust KYC/AML features and instant virtual card issuance. Physical cards are also available. 

Pros: 

• Instant virtual card issuance. 
• Hassle-free integrations with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. 
• Custom risk management solutions. 

Cons: 

• High cost of service. 
• Limited geographical coverage. 

Choosing the Right Card Issuing Provider for Your Business: Top Features to Look For 

With so many credit card issuing companies offering their services in the digital banking market, you may find it hard to spot the right option for your business needs. The following checklist covers the main quality parameters that distinguish great credit card issuers from mediocre ones. 

• Variety of card types. The first thing to check is the range of cards your chosen issuer can provide. You may be planning to offer both prepaid card solutions and corporate card programs to customers, so it’s better to opt for the provider with broad card type coverage. 
• Technologies. As the market of digital payments moves fast forward, you should be sure that you’ll provide access to the latest technologies, like contactless payments or NFC payments. EMV card issuance is also one of the present-day standards of top-quality service coverage, so you may check whether your card issuer can do that for your clients. 
• Reputation. The card issuer’s reputation and online publicity are critical parameters that you can’t ignore. We recommend choosing only among providers with a rock-solid standing in the market that have no negative reviews and are known for delivering flawless services. 
• Customization. The degree of customization also matters in the selection of card issuers, as many white-label card services offer only a limited number of customizations. Thus, you need to find a company that balances cost and customization so that you give your clients the needed personalization. 
• Integrations. All digital payment solutions operate within a broader financial ecosystem. Thus, they should offer flexible API and SDK tools for seamless integrations and service extensions. Integration is also instrumental in fitting the new card issuance functionality into your existing business infrastructure. 
• Compliance. Compliance and security matter much in digital finance. Users’ money and data are stored online, so it’s important to shield them from hackers. Thus, your card issuing partner should comply with the PCI DSS standards and implement the 3-D Secure 2.0 or biometric protective measures. Compliance is guaranteed by robust KYC/AML procedures that prevent fraud and criminal activities. 
• Pricing. The cost structure of card issuance services may be rather complex, with setup fees, transaction commissions, and other costs adding up to create a significant financial burden on your business. Though some of these services really add value, many of them may be unaffordable to small firms on a limited budget. So, if money really matters to you, you may choose from the list of credit card issuing companies for startups; they have a more democratic pricing approach and often offer services on a pay-as-you-go basis. 
• Customer support. In a market where the customer is king, you can’t take risks of ignoring the customer support dimension. Today’s users enjoy hyper-personalization and a customer-centric approach, which may be facilitated by 24/7 access to support, intuitive onboarding tools, and chatbot assistance. 

If you’re completely new to the process, we recommend hiring one of the FinTech consulting companies. Such entities can analyze your business needs, budget, and goals to choose the best match. 

What Are the Challenges in Card Issuing You May Face? 

As soon as you partner with banking software development companies to launch your FinTech solution, you need to be prepared for the following challenges that may get in the way. Card issuers face many potential risks and hazards in the dynamic digital finance landscape: 

• Compliance. Digital banking is a heavily regulated area, and every card issuer should monitor the regulatory landscape to guarantee end-to-end compliance of card issuance and use with legal requirements. Otherwise, businesses may be fined or even liquidated because of data privacy or money laundering concerns. 
• Technology changes. Technological progress is very fast today, and card issuing companies need to track the tech innovations and incorporate them swiftly to meet user expectations. 
• Fraud and security. Card issuers may face hacker attacks, unauthorized transactions, or identity and data theft in their operations. Thus, they are continually pressured to improve security measures and protect all customers’ funds and data.  
• Dynamic consumer demand. As the technology landscape is getting more sophisticated, consumer expectations and demands also grow. The present-day end user is spoilt for choice, and the card issuer’s task is to keep up with the demand and surpass its competitors. 

Key Card Issuing Trends for 2024 and Beyond 

The card payment industry is very dynamic. Thus, in the process of choosing a card issuing partner for your business, always keep the rising trends in mind and check whether your chosen company is ready to embrace them. 

• Digital wallets. With so many types of digital wallets emerging in today’s market, physical cards may be losing relevance. Yet, many card issuing companies have found ways to link wallets and cards to give clients a broader spectrum of opportunities for using their wallet balances. 
• Virtual card payments. It’s not necessary to own a physical card anymore to produce payments. Virtual cards are gaining momentum in many well-established card issuing networks; you only need to add the virtual card to your wallet and use it similarly to other cards, paying with one click, touch, or move.  
• Contactless payments. The legacy of COVID-19 has become the new normal in the card payment industry. Thus, all card issuers strive to enable contactless payment technology to allow their users greater freedom. 
• Security innovations. Cybersecurity makes a real difference in digital payments. Thus, it’s vital to be one step ahead of hackers with security measures, such as 3D secure 2.0 and biometrics.  
• BNPL. The “buy now, pay later” scheme is gaining popularity among modern users who want flexibility in payments. Thus, many card issuers offer BNPL schemes that increase e-commerce businesses’ sales.   

How RNDpoint Can Help You Integrate Card Issuing into Your Product 

The process of card issuer’s API integration is a complicated process that requires programming expertise. The RNDpoint team can choose the necessary API for your business needs and complete the entire integration process by linking the API to your codebase and performing its comprehensive testing in a sandbox or development environment. Once we ensure that everything works fine, we proceed to the API’s deployment that enables your clients to order virtual and physical cards and enjoy a broader range of transaction services. 

We can also provide your FinTech business with the full payment infrastructure that will include a digital wallet solution and an opportunity for physical or virtual card issuance for that account. Our team possesses over a decade of experience in banking and FinTech, so we can design state-of-the-art financial solutions with full regard to the latest trends and technologies.