What is a card issuer? How brands launch their own cards
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
A card issuer is the bank or licensed firm that gives a customer their card. When the card is used, the issuer decides whether to approve the payment and takes the money from the customer's account or balance.
What the issuer does
- Checks and onboards the cardholder.
- Creates the card, physical, virtual or both.
- Approves or declines every payment in real time.
- Handles disputes and fraud on the cardholder's side.
How issuers earn money
Issuers receive interchange, a small fee from the business's side, on each card payment. They may also earn from account fees, foreign exchange and, on credit cards, interest.
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What it does
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Debit, prepaid and credit
A debit card spends from a bank account, a prepaid card spends from a loaded balance, and a credit card borrows money to be repaid later. Most money apps issue debit or prepaid cards, since credit needs lending permissions.
How brands launch cards
Most brands don't become issuers themselves. They work with a licensed issuing partner and card network sponsor, and put their own name and design on the card. SendPay Cards platforms, powered by licensed partners, are free to design and preview.
How it works
Your own money app- 1Name it and pick your colours
- 2Choose what it does
- 3Launch when you are ready
Why sign up
Create your free SendPay account
It's all about creating your own financial platform with ease. Start with a free account today.
- 🪪A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
- 💳Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
- 🌐A free business websiteFree to build, free to publish and free to keep, with unlimited visits.
- 🚀Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
What would my own card programme earn?
Work out card costs, card income and first-year profit from your own numbers.
Card issuing profit calculator →What do a prepaid card's fees add up to?
Add up a year's fees on a prepaid card.
Prepaid card cost calculator →What is a BIN sponsor?
The licensed firm that lets a brand issue cards on a network.
What is a BIN sponsor? →Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.