Launch a branded card programme without building issuer infrastructure
Zen Card is a turnkey, white-labelled card issuance and processing platform. You define the customer segments and the brand. We deliver the card stack underneath: BIN ranges, scheme certification, personalisation and fulfilment, the API layer, and lifecycle support for every card issued.
The problem this solves
Building card issuing in-house means securing a BIN, completing scheme certification, contracting a personalisation bureau, standing up an authorisation and settlement stack, and then maintaining all of it for the lifetime of every card you issue. It is a multi-year programme before a single customer holds a card.
Most institutions do not want to build that. They want to distribute cards under their own brand, to their own customers, under their own licence, and have somebody else own the infrastructure. That is what Zen Card is.
What you own, and what we own
| Responsibility | Your institution | Zen Card |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory licence and permissions | Owns | Not applicable |
| KYC, AML and customer onboarding | Owns, under its own regulated process | Provides technical hooks |
| Customer relationship and brand | Owns | Supports |
| BIN ranges and scheme certification | Optional, if you hold a BIN | Provides Zen-managed BINs |
| Card design and scheme approval submission | Approves | Prepares and submits |
| Card production, personalisation, fulfilment | Sets requirements | Operates |
| Authorisation, processing and settlement | Oversees | Operates |
| FX and local-currency settlement | Oversees | Operates |
| Platform, API and dashboard | Consumes | Builds and maintains |
| Card lifecycle support | Sets policy | Operates for the life of each card |
What the platform delivers
Physical and virtual cards
Visa-accepted plastic with EMV chip and contactless, plus instantly issued virtual cards that are tokenisation-ready for mobile wallets in eligible markets.
Managed BIN ranges
Issue from Zen-managed BIN ranges so you do not have to secure a BIN and complete certification before launch, or bring your own if you already hold one.
Global acceptance
Usable anywhere Visa is accepted, across 100+ countries, subject to the exclusion list maintained for scheme, sanctions and regulatory compliance.
Crypto and stablecoin funding
Cardholders fund balances from major cryptocurrencies and stablecoins through on-ramp connectivity, with merchant settlement in local fiat.
API and dashboard
A REST integration layer for issuance, funding, controls and reporting, plus an operational dashboard for your team.
Full lifecycle operations
Top-up, reissuance, freeze and unfreeze, PIN management, MCC restrictions, dispute initiation and end-of-life replacement.
How a programme is delivered
- 1Scoping and commercials
We agree target segments, card products, jurisdictions, funding assets and volumes, and issue a commercial proposal with per-card pricing.
- 2Programme onboarding
Card designs are prepared against Visa design rules and submitted for scheme approval. BIN ranges, programme rules and the exclusion list are confirmed.
- 3Integration
Your team integrates the API layer for issuance, funding and controls, and connects your existing KYC and AML process to the technical hooks provided.
- 4Pilot issuance
A bounded pilot proves the end-to-end flow: onboarding, issuance, funding, authorisation, settlement and support, with real cards in real hands.
- 5Production roll-out
On successful completion and your written approval, the programme scales under the same framework, with lifecycle support included for every card.
Why institutions choose this model
No issuer build
Cards can be produced, personalised, shipped and activated under your brand without you standing up issuer infrastructure.
Scheme-aligned by design
Cards, BIN ranges, designs and programme rules are produced against Visa scheme requirements and submitted for approval during onboarding.
Predictable economics
A single per-card price for physical and a single per-card price for virtual, with software, maintenance and lifecycle support included.
Your regulatory wrapper
The programme operates under your licence, in your jurisdictions, on your terms.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need our own BIN to launch a card programme with Zen Card?+
No. Programmes can run on Zen-managed BIN ranges, which removes the need for you to secure your own BIN and complete scheme certification before launch. Institutions that already hold a BIN can use it instead; both models are supported.
Who holds the regulatory permissions in a Zen Card programme?+
You do. Zen Card is a technology and programme-management provider. The issuing institution holds the licence, owns the customer relationship, performs KYC and AML under its own regulated process, and provides the regulatory wrapper in its operating jurisdictions. Zen Card supplies the platform, the scheme connectivity and the operational stack beneath it.
How long does a card programme take to launch?+
Timelines depend on scheme approval, your KYC and AML integration, and card production lead times. A pilot on Zen-managed BIN ranges is materially faster than a programme requiring new BIN issuance and full certification, because the scheme work is already done.
Can cards carry our brand?+
Yes. Card designs carry your brand elements including logo, colour palette and optional tagline, within Visa design rules, and are submitted for scheme approval as part of programme onboarding.
What does a programme cost?+
Programmes are priced per card issued, with separate rates for physical and virtual cards, and platform software, maintenance and lifecycle support included for the life of each card. Exact commercials depend on volume and scope. See the pricing page or contact us for a proposal.
Which currencies and assets can fund a card?+
Cards can be funded from major cryptocurrencies and stablecoins through Zen Card on-ramp connectivity, with settlement to merchants in local fiat currency. The exact asset list is agreed per programme and per jurisdiction.
Go deeper
Card issuing in detail
Card products, BIN models, personalisation, fulfilment and the controls available to your programme.
Integration and API
How your systems connect to Zen Card, and what your engineering team needs to build.
Compliance and governance
Where responsibility sits, what we monitor, and how programme controls are operated.
What is BIN sponsorship?
A plain explanation of BIN sponsorship and when it is the right route for a card programme.
Discuss a programme
Tell us your segments, jurisdictions and expected volumes, and we will come back with a scoped commercial proposal.