What is card on file? How saved card payments work
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
Card on file means a customer's card is saved so they can be charged again without typing the details each time. It powers one-click checkout, subscriptions and account top-ups.
How it works
- The customer pays once and agrees to their card being saved.
- The card number is swapped for a token, so the real number isn't stored by the business.
- Later payments use the token, either started by the customer or, with agreement, by the business.
- The customer can remove the saved card or cancel at any time.
Customer and business-started payments
When the customer clicks to pay with a saved card, it's customer-initiated. When the business charges on an agreed schedule, like a monthly subscription, it's merchant-initiated. Card schemes have rules for both, including telling the customer clearly what they're agreeing to.
Try it
Name your platform and watch it come to life
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Colour
What it does
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Keeping cards safe
Storing raw card numbers brings heavy PCI DSS duties, which is why most businesses rely on tokens held by their payment provider.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms include subscriptions, payment links and invoicing, alongside GBP, EUR and USD accounts and branded Visa cards under your own brand, powered by licensed partners.
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 do failed subscription payments cost me?
Work out what failed renewals cost a month and a year, and what winning more back is worth.
Failed subscription payment calculator →How many saved-card payments get declined?
Work out your approval rate and what declines cost you a month.
Payment authorisation rate calculator →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.