Payments

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-7-4.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="z6xoivwf2" width="100%" height="356">The fintech industry is a big ocean where one gets easily lost if unaware of the operational standpoint of digital solutions. It has so many entities built with innovative ideas, frameworks, and processes that offer high scope to elevate the business to different levels.Among the pool of technology offered by the fintech world, payment solution is the essential competitive niche with robust ideologies already in action.The statement&nbsp;Payments are happening in the air&nbsp;is surreal because of the customized payment solutions popping out from every nook. These customized payment solutions are powered by two little, but mighty players called the Payment Gateway and Payment Switch. Though invisible to the human eyes, this duo is at the center of every scalable payment method that today’s banks and businesses are trying to deploy for a niche customer experience.<h2 class="heading-node" id="5533">What is a Payment Gateway?</h2>A payment gateway is a tool that potentially takes care of the transaction process end-to-end, covering security to settlement. Payment gateway, also known as the facilitator of the payment, is an online digital cashier who charges, verifies, collects cash, and hands over the deliverables.Payment Gateway is developed and launched by fintech’s to allow the merchants (businesses) to accept the payments in their selling platform, online or offline.They are third-party software sitting between businesses (merchant selling platform) and issuing bank account. This software creates a pathway in which the user (customer) can submit his/her sensitive information (card details, passwords, PINs) to the merchant in exchange for the promised goods.The payment gateway validates the submitted information, checks for the fund availability, deducts the fund. When the products are shipped or handed over, the fund is moved to the merchant account in 1–2 business days.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-10-3.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="ueyc1wyvd" width="100%" height="284">The powerful coding lines in the payment gateway enable the user to request a payment transaction within the seller platform. It assists the transaction process by executing the following steps,<ul class="list-node" id="qof5gk3a6"><li>Accepts the payment request</li><li>Verifies the user card details or submitted account details</li><li>Check for the fund availability</li><li>Processes the transaction</li><li>Transfers the fund to the acquirer bank account (merchant bank account)</li></ul>In simple terms, the software allows the smooth transaction between the issuing bank account and the acquirer’s bank account.<h2 class="heading-node" id="29e9">Benefits of a Payment Gateway</h2><ol class="list-node" id="bcxfx2siy"><li>Allows millions of users to perform a transaction with the merchants</li><li>Reduces the fraudulent services in online payments with various authentication steps like OTP, CVV, or CCV</li><li>Allows multiple payment options like a credit card, net banking, mobile wallet, or digital transactions.</li><li>Easy report generation, reconciliation, and settlement for accounting frameworks.</li></ol><h2 class="heading-node" id="5679">What is a Payment Switch?</h2>Payment switch is also a technology but embedded into the payment gateways. It is an independent entity that conveniently sits inside the payment gateways to assist the <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/future-of-payments-processing-matched-with-industry-needs/">payment processing</a>.Being an OLTP (online transaction process tasks) a payment switch takes care of all the nuances inside a transaction. Suppose the payment gateway is a founder who oversees the transaction. In that case, the switch is the executive who does the actual payment processing tasks.In a payment gateway, there are multiple merchant accounts boarded with their bank (acquirer bank). So, when a payment request comes from a merchant selling platform, switch dynamically identifies the acquirer bank (associated with that merchant) and the issuing bank of that specific request through <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-bin-migrationpreparing-for-8-digit-bins/">BIN</a> allotment and then permits the transaction to happen securely.BIN allotment is one among many ways for the payment switch to route the transaction. It also supports routing by amount, routing by the time of the day. Once it receives the message from the issuing bank, it formats and sends back the response to the acquirer.The payment switch is a flexible entity accepting the payment request from the payment gateway and beginning the transaction steps.<ul class="list-node" id="5zkz91mvg"><li>Accepts the validated payment request from the PG</li><li>Reads the merchant rules for the transaction process</li><li>Identifies the PSP for that particular payment request</li><li>Routes (switches) the transaction based on a BIN allotment for a specific PSP associated with that payment request</li><li>Processes the transaction based on failure or success</li></ul><img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-9-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284"><h2 class="heading-node" id="h40nrxm4e">Benefits of a Payment Switch</h2><ol class="list-node" id="ccsypcdsi"><li>Highly Scalable</li><li>Dynamic Routing</li><li>Fewer outages’ issues</li><li>No more connectivity time out</li><li>Secure and eliminates the fraud risks because of the encrypted BIN allotment</li><li>Allows extension of payment networks</li></ol><h2 class="heading-node" id="eeqyxyhej">Payment Gateway vs. Payment Switch</h2>In the whole payment ecosystem, payment gateway and payment switch are the two variables that have become the atom to all the online and offline businesses appending banks. The two entities are not different but not the same too. They are embedded onto each other to reduce downtime and outages.It is easy to confuse both and interpret them as one, but it is not. Although on a bird’s view, the operations of both are alike, the underlying subtlety in the payment processing tasks differentiates payment gateway from payment switch.<h2 class="heading-node" id="2280">How do they work together in sync?</h2>Payment gateway and Payment switch work together in a fashionable way enabling faster, safer, and dynamic transactions. At a fraction of a second, the payment gateway can process more than a million transactions because of the flexible switch. You can imagine a payment gateway as the train track, and the payment switch is the railroad switch to change train routes. Just like the railroad switch guides the train to their proper destinations, the payment switch guides the transaction process to the right acquirer’s place.<blockquote class="block-node" id="u3fmyga0u">One platform, multiples payment requests, no mishaps, no outages, and no time outs — all possible because of payment switch.</blockquote><h2 class="heading-node" id="q8g6rg92k">What is the future of both?</h2>Payment switches will not go away because banks face intense competition to bring the topmost secure and faster payment methods. Payment initiatives will take the revolution road only till the switch exists.However, the future remains unpredictable (after what 2020 has taught). So, maybe the end might eliminate the switch and bring in a more robust payment gateway technology.In retrospect…The switch will be the payment gateway and grow as a monopoly in the payment ecosystem.Since owning a switch needs BIN allotment, the regulations charges are heavy; also, the technology requires a fast server with 24*7 hours access.But the real question for our thought here is, what if AI intelligence operations are allowed into payment technology. Then the game changes — switches will get a complete upgrade. But the future is yet to be witnessed.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

What is a Payment Gateway and Payment Switch?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/04/banner1251-5-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="l0awqi5yp" width="100%" height="356">Swiping a credit card for purchases has been a standard practice for decades. All we need to do is swipe the card, and the transaction is complete. If it is an E-commerce transaction, entering the card details and other requisite information does the trick. And the time taken to complete this happening is mere seconds. But there are many steps between the card swipe and receipt of the swipe. All those actions are an intricate part of how credit card processing happens on the inside.<blockquote class="block-node" id="6mo1864fw">Simplifying Wikipedia’s terms: The Credit card is a payment card used by consumers to pay the merchant in exchange for goods or services. It is a promise between the card issuer and the cardholder to abide by a few drafted financial terms &amp; conditions — the cost of the goods + interest rates or late fees.</blockquote>It is a calculative risk taken by many parties involved in the transaction.From transferring the funds securely to collecting the payment from the user later, it revolves under a virtual promise. So that the importance of understanding credit card processing is to avoid any mishaps.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b7b9">What is credit card processing?</h2>Credit Card Processing is the funnel through which the data related to the Consumer Credit Card and purchase are transmitted from their Credit Accounts to Merchant Account. As consumer uses their credit card to buy a product, a virtual process happens swiftly between many financial participants to allow or decline the purchase.The credit card processing framework is a blueprint that serves as a guide for payments to go in the right direction during the transaction, and when they take a toll, it acts as an investigator.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bab3">Stakeholders in credit card processing</h2>The credit card processing network actively processes millions of transactions with the help of rigid network infrastructure and various stakeholders behind each network architecture.Each task is a mini approval request raised and approved in a circular motion by the financial entities involved in the process.Card Holder:&nbsp;The consumer is the credit cardholder.Merchant:&nbsp;The owner of the online selling platform or the offline store where the goods or services are placed for the consumers to buy.Example: Amazon (online store) Costco HyperMarket (offline store)Payment Processor: These are the companies that communicate and relay information from Consumer’s credit card to both Issuing and Acquiring Bank. All this occurs at lightning speed. Payment processors collect, receive, and accept the payment using a combination of hardware and software advancements. They ensure the security and fraud protection measures in the transactions.Card Network: Visa, MasterCard are the dominant examples of the card network, followed by American Express and Discover. They are virtual payment infrastructure facilitating the communication between merchant and issuer bank. Along with these international players, we have an India-borne network RuPay, launched by NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India).American Express and Discover are also issuers in the credit card industry. Discover also owns and operates Discover Bank. In India, Discover-branded credit cards are seen in collaboration with HDFC Bank and Diners Club International.Issuing Bank:&nbsp;An Issuing Bank (or “Issuer”) is an entity that provides Credit/Debit Cards to customers (VISA, Master, American Express, etc.). It authenticates a customer’s purchase at a store/online site. When a payment is made at a store, funds are transferred from the issuing bank (which authenticates the transaction) to the acquiring bank.Acquiring Bank:&nbsp;An Acquiring Bank (or “acquirer” or “merchant’s bank”) is an entity that maintains the merchant’s bank account. With the help of the acquiring bank, the merchant can process debit and credit card payments, access payment gateways, and receive payments from transacting customers.Any eCommerce entity or a brick-and-mortar store can collect online payments only after signing a contract with an acquiring bank. Once the contract is signed, the merchant can receive online payments, and the acquirer takes care of it on behalf of the merchant.In short, acquirers accept payments while issuers make payments. Also, the Acquirers provide their services to businesses, whereas Issuers offer their services to individuals. Acquirers and Issuers are like two sides of the same coin; though there are subtle differences in how they work, one cannot exist without the other.<h2 class="heading-node" id="92d9">How does credit card processing work?</h2>Credit card processing, which happens in a fraction of seconds, is a complex process in the background. We have tried demystifying the process in 7 simple steps:<img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*K9bp4Kbg_HWik1wOxQw9jw.jpeg" alt="Credit Card Processing Flow" title="" width="100%" height="284"><h3 class="heading-node" id="46f4">Consumer confirms purchase</h3>The consumer, who is also the cardholder, confirms the purchase at the POS (Point of Sale) terminal or the checkout webpage of the e-commerce website.<h3 class="heading-node" id="7fec">Consumer submits transaction details</h3>To complete the purchase, the consumer swipes the credit card or submits his card details to begin the payment. The transaction here will follow two flows; if it is a POS transaction, the POS device will read the card information. In the case of e-commerce websites, the consumer enters card details in the payment gateway.<h3 class="heading-node" id="1675">Secured data transmission</h3>There are multiple levels involved in the card data transmission and the purchase amount.<ol class="list-node" id="z0vfnyiw9"><li>Encrypted details sent to Payment Processor-&nbsp;The card reader or the payment gateway passes the transaction information in an encrypted format to the payment processor.</li><li>Payment Processor to Card Network-&nbsp;The payment processor collects and transmits information to the Credit Card Network.</li><li>Card Network to Issuer Bank-&nbsp;The Consumer’s Bank or the Issuing Bank which has issued the Credit Card, receives the information.</li></ol><h3 class="heading-node" id="1ae6">Payment verification by issuing bank</h3>The Consumer’s Bank verifies the availability of sufficient funds for the purchase. It also checks the legitimacy of the purchase. Once all these checks are done, it sends an approved or declined message to the Credit Card Network.<h3 class="heading-node" id="834e">Payment authorization</h3>Authorization response from the Card Network is sent to the Payment Gateway or the Card reader, displaying the response at the Purchase window. Once the authorization is approved, the merchant can deliver goods to Consumer.<h3 class="heading-node" id="665c">Payment processing by acquiring bank</h3>Merchant’s Bank or the Acquiring Bank receives the approved authorizations and credit card payments in a batch from Merchant for settlement. The payments are processed by the Bank on behalf of merchants.<h3 class="heading-node" id="e50a">Payment settlement flow</h3>The merchant bank further raises the Credit Card issuing bank request for batch settlement. The issuing bank, in turn, makes a settlement payment to the merchant bank the following day. Once funds are received by the Merchant Bank; certain amount towards interchange fees, acquirer fee, etc. are deducted before depositing the remaining to the merchant’s account. The settlement process typically takes 2–3 Business days.<h2 class="heading-node" id="ec35">What happens if the card transaction fails to go through?</h2>In case of refunds, payment disputes, or fraud reports, the process begins at the issuer end and then flows to the acquirer. In these cases, too, the issuer will authorize, and the acquirer authenticates. Though the minor details may differ from case to case, the overall process is the same. This activity is also known as the&nbsp;Chargeback process.&nbsp;Here the issuing bank will reverse the transaction in question by withdrawing money from the acquirer and returning it to the cardholder.The merchant can dispute the chargeback through&nbsp;Representment, where the acquirer must gather evidence on the merchant’s behalf to prove the original transaction validity. The issuer will examine the collected facts and offer an outcome supporting either the merchant or the cardholder.<h2 class="heading-node" id="280d">What are credit card processing services?</h2>A credit card processing service handles the data transfer that happens between the card machine and the bank. It processes all kinds of credit card transactions, both offline and online. Also known as&nbsp;Merchant Service&nbsp;Providers, these companies are authorized by card networks such Visa, MasterCard, etc. They help businesses open merchant accounts and manage their daily card transactions for a fee.<h2 class="heading-node" id="3ad2">Credit card processing fees</h2>The whole operation of credit card settlement and processing is notoriously confusing and complex. Still, it’s made easy for a price, and that is your credit card processing fees. This amount is charged to the merchant based on the payment processor he is using.Payment processors like the fintech providers who provide the payment infrastructure in the selling platform are the ones that collect this fee. It is then split among the other active players in the credit card processing framework.Credit card processing fees are broken into<ol class="list-node" id="5i5ncnxcm"><li>Interchange:&nbsp;The commission fee that goes to the issuer bank, non-negotiable.</li><li>Assessments:&nbsp;The commission fee that goes to the card network brand, non-negotiable.</li><li>Markup:&nbsp;The commission fee that goes to the payment processor, negotiable.</li></ol><h2 class="heading-node" id="f95c">Payment processing technologies</h2><img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/1400/1*jEPc3qSRo-kXAHW_35lr0w.jpeg" alt="Payment Processing Technologies" title="" width="100%" height="284">Payments are sensitive everywhere. Lose a tooth nobody cares but lose a penny in the transaction everybody loses their temperance.It is essential to place your business into the next generation of the digital world that demands trust, fast, easy, and scalable fintech solutions. Only when your chosen payment processing technology can act as more than an enhancement can one survive the competition.To process a credit card, settle the credit card funds, and secure the payment process, the fintech industry caters to the technology accordingly. Irrespective of online or offline stores, payment processing, needs to happen few seconds to place an active bet in the competition. And here are some of the technologies<ul class="list-node" id="gt7lqlsep"><li>Mobile POS terminal (mPOS)- It is a device used at stores for retail card transactions</li><li>Payment Gateway- It is the key component of the payment processing system, and it sends the customer information to the acquirer</li><li>Real-Time Payments (RTP)- As the name suggests, RTP payments are initiated and settled almost instantly. Ideally, this technology is available 24*7*365</li><li>Mobile Wallets- It is a virtual wallet that stores an individual’s card details on a mobile device. They are used to make payments without the need for a physical card.</li><li>Blockchain in Payments- It is a promising tech for payment processing. Many companies worldwide are exploring its potential in the same.</li><li>NFC/Contactless Cards- NFC is available in smartphone payment gateways. It allows users to store multiple card data on their mobile, thereby reducing the need to carry cash.</li></ul><h2 class="heading-node" id="3bfc">Conclusion</h2>I know this is a lot to take in. We wish for an easy backend process, too, with fewer complications involved.However, that’s a job for us to worry about while you think only of choosing the right credit card processing system. The only thought you should have is about bringing in a suitable payment processor to make your credit card transactions occur in a fraction of seconds for a lower fee.Want to know more on this? Write to us at business@m2pfintech.com.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Credit Card Processing - A Definitive Guide

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/07/Creatives-for-Debit-Cards-blog_1M-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="284">Debit cards are a very critical part of the payment ecosystem. As of January 2022, there were over 940 million active debit cards in India. Averaging a transaction value of 3.5 trillion Indian Rupees per month, the volume is much higher than that of credit cards.Highly secure, debit cards are super easy and convenient to use. All you need to do is enter the PIN (Personal Identification Number) or tap the debit card for quick cashless transactions. As the debit cards are linked to bank accounts, they use existing account balances, so there is no question of falling into debt or paying interest charges. In fact, you can also keep track of spending and maintain a record of all your expenditures.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b7bd">What are debit cards?</h2>Debit cards are payment cards that are linked to bank accounts. They are issued by banks and NBFCs to individuals and corporate entities. And can be used for in-store and online payments, fund transfers, and cash withdrawals. The amount required for transactions must be in the cardholder’s bank account at the time of the transaction and will be transferred directly from that account to the recipient’s account in real-time.Here are the key components of a debit card.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/07/Creatives-for-Debit-Cards-blog_3M.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="5csx15muw" width="100%" height="284"><h2 class="heading-node" id="da17">Types of debit cards</h2>Banks and NBFCs issue different types of debit cards. They are classified based on payment platform, technology, and usage.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/07/Creatives-for-Debit-Cards-blog_2M.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="tae1ugzin" width="100%" height="284"><h3 class="heading-node" id="9d76">Payment platform</h3>·&nbsp;Visa Debit Card-Debit cards that use the VISA card network·&nbsp;MasterCard Debit Card-Debit cards that use MasterCard network·&nbsp;RuPay Debit Card-Debit cards that use the RuPay network established by the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India)<h3 class="heading-node" id="4bba">Technology</h3>·&nbsp;Contactless Debit Card&nbsp;-Debit cards that are encrypted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/nfc-payments-simplifying-payment-space/" rel="noopener">Near-field communication (NFC)</a>&nbsp;technology are contactless debit cards. There is no need to hand over the card at the POS terminal physically. Just a wave or tap will do.·&nbsp;Chip &amp; Pin Debit Card- Debit cards inbuilt with a chip that helps store and transact data in an encrypted format are called Chip &amp; Pin debit cards. Transactions happen here with the help of a PIN (Personal Identification Number).·&nbsp;Magnetic Stripe Debit Card- Debit cards that come with a magnetic band that is swiped past its reading head while a transaction takes place is a magnetic stripe card.<h3 class="heading-node" id="7b59">Usage</h3>·&nbsp;Prepaid Debit Card-&nbsp;Prepaid debit card is pre-equipped with a fixed amount of money to spend and can be reloaded if required.·&nbsp;Virtual Debit Card-&nbsp;This is a digital debit card that helps pay for online purchases. They can be used through mobile banking applications.·&nbsp;Disposable Debit Card- This is a virtual debit card that can be created instantly. They are most suited for one-time online transactions.·&nbsp;International Debit Card-&nbsp;This debit card is used to make payments and cash withdrawals overseas.·&nbsp;Business Debit Card- Corporate entities can provide debit cards to their employees to make business purchases and cash withdrawals.<h2 class="heading-node" id="f613">RBI directive on debit cards</h2>Effective 1 July 2022, RBI brought in the following regulations for debit card issuance. Banks and NBFCs must strictly adhere to the directives.· Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) can issue debit cards virtually or physically after obtaining approval from the RBI.· Banks shall only issue debit cards to customers holding savings/current accounts. Issuance of debit cards to cash credit/loan account holders is prohibited.· Banks shall not force customers to avail the debit cards. However, if a customer does not want a debit card, they cannot be denied other services from the bank.· Banks should develop a comprehensive debit card issuance policy and get approval from their boards and RBI. Subsequently, banks must roll out debit cards per this policy.· Banks must provide options for disabling/blocking the form factor via internet/mobile banking, IVR, SMS, and/or other modes.· In place of plastic debit cards, Scheduled Commercial Banks can issue other form factors after obtaining explicit consent from the customer.In addition to the above regulations, RBI stated, “It will not preclude the banks from linking the overdraft facility provided along with Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana accounts with a debit card.”<h2 class="heading-node" id="1f7e">Why banks and NBFCs issue debit cards?</h2>Issuing debit cards provides several benefits to banks and NBFCs. Key advantages are listed below.· Improve customer retention and engagement· Increase review through— Higher cross-selling opportunities— Contextual conversion of transactions into pay later loans· Removes NPA issues, as no interest or repayment charges are levied· Promotes digital transactions and&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/fintech-a-catalyst-for-financial-inclusion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">financial inclusion</a>· Holds a moral compass on enabling accountability, budgeting, and spending within means<h2 class="heading-node" id="8bec">Issues in legacy card issuance platforms</h2>Gone are the days when banks issued debit cards using legacy infrastructure platforms. While the issuer’s focus is on catering to the needs of a versatile demographic with quick and customized card programs, legacy platforms are a huge hurdle. The legacy systems limit the agility and flexibility required to scale up multiple use cases, customize personalized card experiences, and quick go-to-market speed.It takes several months or even a year to set up a card program, which causes a lag in launching the product. Thus, businesses suffer from increased cost and effort and grapple with the ability to offer consumers the best digital card experience.<h2 class="heading-node" id="6462">Modern APIs to simplify debit card issuance</h2>An&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/api-the-power-that-drives-new-age-banking-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">API</a>-first card issuing platform helps issuers develop unique debit card solutions customized to consumer expectations and business needs. The platform is hosted on a cloud infrastructure that accommodates scaling, as the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are amenable to changes in business logic and new use cases.<h2 class="heading-node" id="97ab">Boost GTM with our debit card ecosystem</h2>Using our API-based card platforms, issuers can go to market(GTM) with a full-fledged debit card program within weeks. We provide a holistic debit card ecosystem that encompasses everything right from applying for&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-bin-migrationpreparing-for-8-digit-bins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">BIN</a>, card issuer processing, identifying a card printer and fulfillment supplier, mobile wallet&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/how-does-payment-tokenization-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">tokenization</a>, and a payment scheme contract. We also possess our own card switch on the issuer side (for routing transactions) and&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/why-is-risk-based-authentication-rba-critical-for-banks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">ACS</a>&nbsp;system (authentication gateway), which are features most other API providers do not have.Issuers can build a unique customer experience using custom controls, unique data-based transaction authorization, and issue virtual and disposable cards. APIs also help drive actionable, real-time transaction data to drive insights and program improvements.We power comprehensive program management that cuts across core issuing, processing, technology with mobile-first API-based infrastructure, and back office operations that include recon and chargeback processing. We also provide support for marketing and customer service via a chatbot interface. All these programs are quite flexible, so issuers may opt-in based on their level of readiness and level of complexity in card processing, technology, operation, risk management, and customer service.Want to know more about debit card issuance?Write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au mn" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Debit Card Issuance 101 - All You Need To Know

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/banner-1-1.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Payment Tokenization — One technology to make all the stakeholders of digital transactions happy!<blockquote class="block-node" id="pcv6p2tv7">“Tokenization market worth is estimated to be $4.8 Billion by 2025.”-&nbsp;Markets and Markets</blockquote>Simply put, the word “Tokenize” means substituting, and it is an ingenious concept introduced in 2005 by Shift4payments to protect cardholder data. It factored in data security at its core and is now a popular term due to the surge in online transactions.In fact, a token is a concept that has been long around; for example, the coins that we buy in the gaming arcade or a casino have no value outside the premises. But inside the building, you get to buy your stakes or favorite superhero toy. Likewise, tokens replace or mask the sensitive data in the online transaction by replacing it with random alphanumeric characters.By enabling payment tokenization, the merchants and networks can move data without the hovering threat of payments fraud or identity theft. Tokenization helps in finding a perfect balance between “data security” and “user experience.”<h2 class="heading-node" id="5806" style="text-align: justify">What is ‘Tokenization’ in payments?</h2>In the world of payments, the card account number is masked by a single-use randomized alphanumeric character of the same length. This camouflage is called tokenization in payments. Meaning, each account number is now a ‘Token’ representing the original confidential information. In contrast, the actual data is stored safely in a digital token vault.It is also referred to as ‘Credit Card tokenization’&nbsp;interchangeably. It helps in removing the credit card information from the internal network or database. The concept is more popular with <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/credit-card-processing-a-definitive-guide/">credit cards</a> as it involves a higher magnitude of the fraud.<h2 class="heading-node" id="8f6f" style="text-align: justify">Why do we need Payment tokenization?</h2>Pandemic fostered digital transactions at a faster pace than ever before indeed. As there is an increase in digital commerce, businesses came up with enhanced solutions that facilitated online transactions to confront consumer preferences.Improved digital transactions put security under question. While the consumers are worried about their sensitive data being visible to many online platforms, the merchants fret about losing loyal customers.‘Tokens — the trustworthy representatives,’ alleviates these roadblocks effectively as the original data (ex: credit card number) never reaches the merchant’s server. The merchants enjoy retaining the customers without compromising the reputation while staying <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI-DSS</a> (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/int.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="92tjhlk3p" width="100%" height="358"><h2 class="heading-node" id="aa74" style="text-align: justify">How does Payment Tokenization/Credit Card tokenization work in action?</h2>Tokenization is not a costlier technology as it sounds. Any organization can adopt it irrespective of the structure and size. It is ideal for organizations that cannot afford to spend more on sophisticated encryption algorithms or infrastructure to secure the data.Let’s see an example,<ul class="list-node" id="a9ehiej48"><li>Sara orders a pair of sports shoes on Amazon. After choosing all her preferences, she reaches the payment section.</li><li>She enters the sensitive data on the portal (credit card number, cardholder name, etc.)</li><li>This goes straight to the tokenization server without storing any data in the amazon application’s server</li><li>There are many tokenization providers in the market like Fiserv, Mastercard, American Express, TokenEx, 3D Delta Systems, Meawallet, etc.</li><li>Then it reaches the token vault, where the original data is secure. It, in turn, returns a&nbsp;token&nbsp;of randomized alphanumeric representation of the same length.</li><li>This has no relation to the original data, like in the typical&nbsp;‘data encryption&nbsp;process. The actual data is contained within the ciphered text. Tokens are, in general, generated by mathematical algorithms.</li><li>This token is now passed to the merchant’s acquirer bank, and this bank passes the token to the credit card network.</li><li>Then the card network processes the token and maps it to the customer’s account number, authorizes and passes it to the issuing bank.</li><li>The issuer bank now authorizes or denies the transaction based on the fund balance.</li><li>After the successful transaction, a unique token returns to the merchant.</li><li>Amazon now has no record of Sara’s sensitive original information but her tokens. In this way, Amazon can enable Sara to make one-click payments the next time she shops.</li></ul>It is evident that&nbsp;tokenization checks all the mandates of refined digital transactions. Sara is now happy with her brand-new sports shoes while securing her data in the vault. Getting the data from the vault is not an easy piece of cake. It requires multiple authentication levels, service charges, etc., to verify if a trusted party raised it.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4357" style="text-align: justify">Then it also brings forth the question is Tokenization and Encryption one and the same?</h2>The answer is definitely no.The tokenized data cannot be reversed to reveal the original card number. In contrast, encryption takes a card number, transforms it into ciphertext by running it through an algorithm. To unlock the ciphertext, it has to be decrypted using an encryption key.On the other hand, tokenization uses no algorithm or requires a key to unlock the original data.<h2 class="heading-node" id="b70f" style="text-align: justify">Does Credit Card Tokenization impact a change in the payment process?</h2>No.The end-user will not find any difference in their transactions even after the implementation of tokenization. The entire process happens at the backend without intervening in the user experience. Tokens are generated online and eliminate the need to wait.<h2 class="heading-node" id="744e" style="text-align: justify">Why is Payment Tokenization a ‘Fintech Asset’?</h2>The boom of technology in the Financial services domain has been rapid in the past decade. Card-less transactions, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/remittance-with-upi-a-giant-leap-for-cross-border-payments/">UPI payments</a>, <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/what-is-a-payment-gateway-and-payment-switch-understanding-the-basics-of-payments-architecture/">Payment Gateways</a>, etc., increases online consumers each day. As we enjoy the perks of digital banking with one-click transactions, we cannot deny the fact that our data is vulnerable to “Social Engineering.”Social Engineering is everywhere. We may fall into the trap of hackers and leave a lot of confidential information during digital transactions. There are multiple intrusion points for the hackers to lure in when the transactions float over the network and wipe away our savings.Given this scenario, tokenization is indeed an asset to Fintech. Because even if a hacker tries to sneak into the network, all he can find is randomized alphanumeric and characters with no relation to the original data (PAN number, credit card number, etc.)It is expensive for merchants to become <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-a-quick-guide-to-its-levels/">PCI DSS</a> compliant and qualify themselves as a trustworthy eCommerce merchant for the consumers. They have to undergo a lengthy auditing process, and it is an ongoing process. With the help of&nbsp;‘Tokenization,’&nbsp;merchants can save a hefty amount of money as the scope of <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI DSS</a> compliance is reduced in storing the user’s confidential information.Apart from banking,&nbsp;‘credit card tokenization’&nbsp;builds confidence among the investors as it secures the money with ease. We could see the boom of Blockchain technology-based fintech solutions gaining momentum across the nations.&nbsp;“Tokenization”&nbsp;is also seen as the key to drive blockchain implementation in the future by accompanying cryptocurrency transactions.Finally, it also offers substantial benefits to all stakeholders involved in the transaction:<ul class="list-node" id="nexhxh9e5"><li>Issuers witness a notable decrease in payment fraud in both channels of online and mobile transactions.</li><li>Acquirers, merchants, and processors experience a lower risk of accessible, sensitive cardholder data if compromised by cyber attacks.</li><li>Merchants will wield a powerful mechanism that lets them innovate better retail experiences minus the responsibility of storing and handling sensitive data.</li><li>Customers need not enter their details every time they make an online purchase from smartphones, tablets, or PCs.</li></ul>Payments tokenization makes all the parties — consumers; merchants; payment gateway providers, banking institutions, regulatory bodies feel safe, secure, and happy with their buying and selling processes.Tokenizing confidential data makes way for turbulence-free secure digital transactions!<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

How Does Payment Tokenization Work?

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Blog-Banner_Wearable-in-Banking-payment.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="383">The global wearable market size is projected to reach USD 931.31 Billion by the end of 2030, and wearables are here to stay.Not just in healthcare, retail, and telecom, but also in banking and payments. Changing customer priorities and fintech advancements accelerated the market for wearables in the pandemic era. With millennials, gen X, and gen Z consumers wanting secure, convenient, instantaneous transactions, contactless wearables are the way to go.Projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5%, the future of wearables is likely to evolve further as consumers and financial institutions transition into the cashless, digital universe. Some wearable payment devices have the potential to become a “one-stop-shop” for several services.Disney’s Magic Band for instance is a wearable that Disney Land provides its visitors. Designed in the form of a funky wristband, the magic band functions as an access key, a payment device, and a personalized tracker. And it is also compatible with diverse smartphones and technologies.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7ff3" style="text-align: justify">What are wearable payment devices?</h2>Wearable payment devices are apparel, gadgets, and accessories we use to make contactless payments. The most common types are smartwatches, belts, jackets, fitness trackers, and even rings. They use services like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay to connect the device with the consumer’s bank account.<h2 class="heading-node" id="0774" style="text-align: justify">Top wearable payment devices in the market</h2><h4 class="heading-node" id="peflro9so" style="text-align: justify">Apple Watch</h4>The Apple Watch is one of the most popular smartwatches on the market, and it features NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. This technology allows the watch to communicate with other NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones, to exchange data, make mobile payments, and do other contactless transactions.<h4 class="heading-node" id="zefu7xngv" style="text-align: justify">Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic</h4>Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic offers contactless payment services through Samsung Wallet. This smartwatch enables users to make contactless payments at stores that accept NFC-enabled transactions.<h4 class="heading-node" id="7zin33oqj" style="text-align: justify">7 Ring</h4><a class="link" href="https://seven.ooo/">7 Ring</a> is India's most advanced form of making contactless payments, utilizing Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. Co-certified by EMV, 7 Ring has the same security standards as the payment instruments used worldwide by leading banking networks.7 Ring uses <a class="link" href="https://www.livquik.com/">LivQuik</a>&nbsp;(powered by M2P)&nbsp;as their wallet provider, which works seamlessly with a tap at the PoS terminal, enabling convenient payments without the need for a phone or Bluetooth connection.<h4 class="heading-node" id="vknjub99i" style="text-align: justify">Ringly</h4>Ringly offers rings and bracelets that connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Partnering with MasterCard, they allow you to make contactless payments apart from tracking your activities. They allow you to make contactless payments with just a wave of your hand.Now we’ve seen only a sample of wearable devices. Belts, jackets, and even shoes are used as wearable payment devices today.<h2 class="heading-node" id="f558" style="text-align: justify">How do wearable payment devices work?</h2>To use a wearable payment device, say a smartwatch, the user needs to link the device to a credit card or bank account. Once the device is linked, the user can make payments by simply tapping the device against a payment terminal. The payment is then processed through the credit card or bank account that is linked to the device.<h2 class="heading-node" id="cb0d" style="text-align: justify">Wearable payment technologies</h2>Wearable payment systems are quite commonly used in e-banking and payment platforms. They operate on technologies such as HCE, Barcode, Contactless Point of Sale, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Near-field Communication (NFC) to enable payments and cash transfers.<h4 class="heading-node" id="8264" style="text-align: justify">Host Card Emulation (HCE)</h4>Host Card Emulation (HCE) enables payments that are activated by NFC technology. ​​It allows a device to emulate the functionality of a smart card to provide contactless payment capabilities using the ISO/IEC 7816–4 APDU command set. It communicates with a reader and stores data in the same way that a smart card would. A key benefit of using HCE is that it does not require a physical smart card or a built-in NFC reader. And it can be used for loyalty programs and access control too.<h4 class="heading-node" id="387a" style="text-align: justify">Barcodes</h4>Some wearables are encoded with scan-and-go application barcode scanners for payments. It allows the customer to check out quickly without conventional processes. Barcode technology offers several advantages in wearable devices. They are secure, can be read quickly and easily, and can store a large amount of data. Newer barcode standards, such as QR codes can be deeply encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.<h4 class="heading-node" id="aae0" style="text-align: justify">Contactless Point of Sale (CPOS)</h4>The contactless point of sale (CPOS) is a new technology that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to communicate with the POS terminal and make payments. The CPOS system is fast, convenient, and secure. You just hold your card near the POS terminal, and the payment will be processed automatically. It uses the latest encryption technology to protect personal information.<h4 class="heading-node" id="e897" style="text-align: justify">Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)</h4>RFID wearables such as rings, wristbands, and dongles comprise an embedded chip with an RFID tag. The tag is a unique identifier that an RFID reader can read. The reader can track the tag’s location or access wearer information. RFID-enabled wearables offer many advantages over traditional ID payment devices. They are more difficult to lose or misplace and can be read from a distance, making them ideal for tracking assets or people.<h4 class="heading-node" id="4a4c" style="text-align: justify">Near-field Communication (NFC)</h4>NFC ​​ is a short-range wireless technology that enables two devices to communicate when they are near each other, typically no more than a few centimeters. It is a convenient way to share small amounts of data between devices and works great in wearable payment devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and clothing.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4re67ozcs" style="text-align: justify">Wearables, IoT, and Fintech</h2>As with many things to do with digital transformation, the pandemic pushed businesses to explore and invest in Point-of-Sale (POS) technology, making wearables more than just useful tools. Readily available and user-friendly in usage and navigation, payment apps such as Google Pay and Apple Wallets, have made it easy for all demographics to transition smoothly into wearable technology.In the current mobile climate, using the Internet of Things (IoT) in banking is the way to attract new customers and retain existing ones. Wearable payment devices and IoT helps the financial sector to gain deep customer insight and improve user experience. Banks implementing IoT have seen benefits in cost savings, higher efficiency in business processes, and better customer experience. They have also been able to build new revenue models.There is no doubt that fintech needs wearables, as it opens up new opportunities to transform their businesses and remain strong contenders in the market. We see the increasing use of wearables and in a way, they may even replace mobile phones in the future.<h2 class="heading-node" id="51ef" style="text-align: justify">How wearables benefit banks and fintechs</h2><h4 class="heading-node" id="2062" style="text-align: justify">Access to data</h4>Wearables provide banks access to voluminous data as they are worn by customers most of the time. Customer intelligence gained can be used to enhance experiences and personalize products and services. Wearables are critical to data extraction and analytics.<h4 class="heading-node" id="f3b5" style="text-align: justify">Personalization of customer service</h4>Financial institutions and fintechs today recognize the need to be customer centric. And data extracted from wearables have proven to personalize and optimize customer interactions. Wearables can help predict customer behavior through real-time data and target them with recommendations and personalized offers.<h4 class="heading-node" id="135f" style="text-align: justify">Omnichannel user experience</h4>A combination of IoT and wearables can make all the difference in omnichannel customer experience. Fintech and banks can gain a competitive edge with wearables, for example, using smartwatches to make ATM withdrawals and biometric-enabled transactions.<h4 class="heading-node" id="072a" style="text-align: justify">Risk assessment</h4>Banks and fintechs need to mitigate risk by assessing potential factors. Analyzing customer data extracted from wearables can help enhance risk management decisions on lending, or insurance, among many others.<h2 class="heading-node" id="661d" style="text-align: justify">Banking Wearables in India</h2>India is fast catching up in the wearables market, especially after RBI increased the limit for contactless transactions to Rs. 5000. Both SBI and Axis Bank have launched their wearables Titan Pay and Wear n’ Pay, respectively.<h4 class="heading-node" id="92aa" style="text-align: justify">Titan Pay</h4>Titan Pay is a wearable collaboration between Titan and SBI that offers watches to enable contactless payments. It comprises a mobile app that allows users to send and receive money instantly. Using the watch and the app, users can transact in multiple currencies, track spending, and even set up a budget.<h4 class="heading-node" id="8fae" style="text-align: justify">Wear n’ Pay</h4>Wear n’ Pay devices include accessories like key chains and watch loops from AXIS Bank. It allows you to pay for purchases by just swiping your wrist. The system uses a special wristband that you can wear while you shop. You simply swipe your wristband across the payment terminal to pay for your purchase.<h4 class="heading-node" id="94vghp82w" style="text-align: justify">Indus PayWear</h4>By enabling consumers to easily tokenize their IndusInd Bank credit or debit card onto a chip-enabled wearable device, Indus PayWear is poised to completely change the payment experience. This will do away with the requirement for a physical card or even a payment app for purchases and enable quick and safe tap-and-pay transactions at any contactless Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminal worldwide.<h2 class="heading-node" id="9h5ne3vh6" style="text-align: justify">Real-time adoption of Wearables</h2>During the 2024 IPL, the <a class="link" href="https://www.npci.org.in/PDF/npci/press-releases/2024/NPCI-Press-Release-RuPay-Launches-Exclusive-On-The-Go-Contactless-Payment-Collectible-for-2024-TATA-IPL-Playoffs-and-Final.pdf">NPCI launched an NFC-enabled wristband</a> for payments and access to the playoffs and finals. As a part of the “RuPay On-the-Go” series, the wristband provides seamless access management during events and functions as a versatile contactless payment device post-event.This first-of-its-kind initiative links access management for live events and payments into one exclusive collectible for select attendees of the playoffs and finals.<h2 class="heading-node" id="6f11" style="text-align: justify">Conclusion</h2>The integration of wearable &amp; contactless payments is an emerging trend in the modern payment system. While <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/the-rise-of-digital-payments/" target="">digital payment</a> trends keep on changing, the need to provide the best consumer experience across the platform is always constant for Financial Institutions and Payment Service providers.At M2P, we provide the best customizable payment experiences for businesses. Using our end-to-end API stack, we ensure that modern innovations and technology are seamlessly integrated into your ecosystem. Our APIs enable channel management and limit management across PoS, contactless payments, ecommerce, and withdrawals on your payments platform.Want to know more about integrating contactless payments and other customizable features on your payments platform?Write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au lo" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a>.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox.Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

Rise of Wearables in Payments and Banking

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Blog-Banner_WP_01.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="447">India’s first step toward building a world-class digital payments ecosystem was earmarked by the launch of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in 2016. The advent of UPI transformed the dynamics of the Indian payments landscape. While demonetization drove the adoption of digital payments, the pandemic fueled the surge in UPI, making it the most accepted digital payment mode in the country. Today, UPI is ubiquitous and the largest retail payment system in terms of transaction value and volume.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Blog-Banner_WP_02.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="447">This brainchild of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and supported by Indian Banks Association (IBA).<h2 class="heading-node" id="7e64" style="text-align: justify">What is UPI/ UPI Transaction?</h2>UPI is a mobile payment system that entitles users to transfer money to another party instantly. It facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions. A user can link multiple bank accounts in a single UPI-enabled mobile application and make transfers without entering the bank details such as account number, IFSC code, or net banking user-id/password.Although UPI transactions are akin to NEFT/RTGS/IMPS, it’s more standardized across banks, convenient, hassle-free, and have zero/minimal charges. UPI not only enables quick bank transfers from wherever within a few clicks, but it also boosts transparency and interoperability. UPI apps use a unique identifier (otherwise known as UPI ID) to send/request money faster than NEFT and work 24 X 7. It also upholds contactless payment by generating a specific QR code for each user account.<h2 class="heading-node" id="7d62" style="text-align: justify">How does UPI work?</h2>UPI payment system has become a fundamental part of our daily lives. We have leveraged the UPI apps to make payments to merchants/Kirana stores or send/request money from our friends or family.Here is how a UPI transaction usually takes place.<ul class="list-node" id="sp7szltdm"><li>User downloads UPI app from play store</li><li>Specifies the mobile number to connect the device to the service provider</li><li>Upon authorization, creates a profile by setting up the Virtual Payment Address (VPA), otherwise known as a UPI ID</li><li>Links the bank account with UPI ID using the registered mobile number</li><li>Looks up another user/merchant through their mobile number, UPI ID or QR code to initiate a transaction</li><li>The payer enters the UPI pin to complete the transaction and transfer the money to the payee’s account</li></ul>(Note: It is important to note that the sign-up flow for a merchant is identical)Looks like a simple process, right?Well, there is much more going on in the background to make a UPI transaction successful. For example, during a UPI transaction, the money from the sender’s bank account is first transferred to the payment app’s pooling account or general ledger (GL) and then to the receiver’s bank account. This ecosystem primarily involves five entities.1. Payer PSPPayer PSP is nothing but a Payment Service Provider that allows customers to send money via digital transactions. It captures PIN/Biometric authorization credentials, validates, and sends a payment request to the Payee PSP via UPI.2. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)NPCI acts as a trusted switch between the banks and Payment service providers (PSPs). The role of NPCI is to manage the data flow between the banks and the payment apps and route it to the correct and verified destinations.3. Remitter BankRemitter Bank refers to the sender/payer’s Bank, also known as Issuing Bank. Upon NPCI’s request, it deducts money from the payee account and sends a response to NPCI once the debit is successful.4. Beneficiary BankBeneficiary Bank refers to the merchant/receiver/payee’s Bank, otherwise known as Acquiring Bank. It processes the credit request from NPCI, credits money to the payee’s account, and sends a response to NPCI once the credit is complete.5. Payee PSPUpon receiving the request, the Payee PSP acts as a Beneficiary PSP and provides the account details against a virtual address credit request. It validates the payee details and sends a response to the UPI to receive funds from the payer.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Blog-Banner_WP_03.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="hkz1t9gjg" width="100%" height="447"><h2 class="heading-node" id="230c" style="text-align: justify">Types of UPI Transactions</h2>UPI transactions are classified into two types:Direct PaymentDirect payment or push payment refers to sending money. Here, the payer (the sender) initiates the transaction. For example, sending money to your friends/family or paying a merchant at the checkout by scanning a QR code. In direct payments, the user can initiate the transaction using the UPI ID or QR code.Collect RequestA transaction is called a collect request when the payee (the receiver) starts the transaction. Say, you are shopping online, and you choose the payment mode as “via UPI,” and enter your UPI ID, then, a collect request with the bill amount will be sent to your UPI app. Once you accept the request, the payment will be processed. This is a typical example of a collect request. A collect request is also known as a pull payment and can be initiated only by UPI ID.<h2 class="heading-node" id="f8d3" style="text-align: justify">Features and Benefits of UPI</h2>Since its launch, UPI has made financial transactions much easier for account holders. With over 200 banks, many digital wallets, and payment applications supporting UPI, funds transacted over UPI are already more than those transacted through debit and credit cards.Virtual Payment Address (VPA) or UPI ID is the key feature of UPI. UPI Virtual Payment Address is represented as&nbsp;&lt;unique_identifier&gt;@&lt;address_provider&gt; and serves as the addressing layer for a bank account. It helps sustain privacy and keeps a check on financial frauds.Here are some of the benefits of the UPI Payment system.<ul class="list-node" id="wkxiyj1oy"><li>Universal payment system for accessing multiple bank accounts</li></ul>UPI empowers the users to link numerous banking accounts with a single UPI-based app and allows users to choose one account as a default account for making payments. This is the main advantage of UPI, as it eliminates the need for installing individual apps for different banks.<ul class="list-node" id="f2dvpeheq"><li>Unique identifier enables easy and more secure transactions</li></ul>UPI addresses the security and privacy concerns by implementing the user-specific Unique Identifier (UPI ID or VPA). The user can transfer funds using the UPI ID, thus ridding the need to provide the bank account details. Additionally, the UPI ecosystem has single-click two factor authentication to protect users from financial fraud during digital transactions.<ul class="list-node" id="0lmse4odg"><li>Expands business opportunities for banks</li></ul>UPI has made P2M transactions hassle-free and convenient. Almost every local grocery shop and street vendor have QR codes to accept UPI transfers/payments. This empowers banks to tap into the C2B segment. It also supports the growth of ecommerce transactions and has made online shopping quick and effortless as it drastically reduces the time taken to process a payment.In a conventional card transaction, the user enters the debit card/credit card number, expiry date, and CVV code and waits for the OTP to make a payment. With UPI, the user enters the UPI ID and gets an alert on their phone to verify the transaction and completes the payment within a few seconds. This gives banks the opportunity to infiltrate the ecommerce/m-commerce sector.<ul class="list-node" id="hg4d8be12"><li>No need to register the beneficiary</li></ul>Unlike IMPS/NEFT, UPI does not ask users to fill in banking details such as account number or IFSC code to register the payee as a beneficiary. This means the users need not wait for 30 minutes (in most cases) to activate a beneficiary. The interface allows the users to transfer money by simply keying in the virtual address or UPI ID to make the requisite payment.<ul class="list-node" id="premz2wts"><li>Instant transfer — anytime anywhere</li></ul>Customers can do UPI-based transactions round-the-clock, 365 days. Users can make payments or transfer funds instantly from anywhere at any given point of time without worrying about banking hours, bank/public holidays, or even a bank strike.<h2 class="heading-node" id="0586" style="text-align: justify">How is India using UPI?</h2>With over 200 million users and 323 banks on the bandwagon, UPI exhibited stupendous growth in terms of the number of users and transactions. Thanks to the scalability, UPI saw newer heights in May 2022. It clocked 5.95 billion transactions in May 2022 *, the highest number of monthly UPI transactions ever since its inception in 2016. Moreover, it recorded a 10% month-on-month growth not only in total transactions but also in value. (*As per NPCI data).<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/06/Blog-Banner_WP_04.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="447">Connectivity and convenience are the prime factors contributing to the growing preference for UPI among customers and merchants. The most used UPI-based applications are PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, Amazon Pay, MobiKwik, iMobile, Chillr, and the BHIM app. Some popular banking applications with UPI features include Axis Pay, Baroda MPay, Pockets-ICICI Bank, SBI Pay, Yes Pay, and Airtel Money.Scaling up UPINPCI and RBI have constantly been scaling up UPI’s serviceability. At first, UPI payments could be made only via bank accounts. Then, UPI apps allowed users to add debit card details for transactions. Now, RBI has announced Rupay credit cards can be linked to UPI for payments. Experts believe it will not be long before Visa and Mastercard credit cards join the club.UPI 123 PAYUntil recently, UPI was limited to smartphone users with an internet connection. While India is home to over 180 crore mobile phone users, only 78 crore have smartphones and the rest use feature phones. To empower all such users to leverage the mainstream digital payments system, the Reserve Bank of India introduced a new mode of payment mode, UPI 123PAY, on March 8th, 2022.Since its launch, the platform has recorded 21,833 successful transactions with more than 37 thousand registered users. Economic experts claim this is undoubtedly the beginning of digital financial inclusion.Aadhaar-based activationFurthermore, NPCI included a unique feature in UPI for customers who do not own or wish to own debit/credit cards. It enables such users to activate UPI using their Aadhaar number. The OTP required to set up the profile will be sent to the mobile number linked with the Aadhaar card. Upon verification, the user can create the profile and initiate the transaction. However, the feature is yet to be launched for public use.<h2 class="heading-node" id="531e" style="text-align: justify">NIPL and international partnerships — UPI around the World</h2>The success of UPI took the world by storm. In fact, several countries are trying to replicate UPI’s settlement infrastructure. With this incredible technological feat, the Indian fintech industry is at the forefront of some of the most developed countries.NPCI established a special payments arm, NPCI International Payment Ltd (NIPL), to internationalize RuPay and UPI and facilitate real-time bank account payout in India. NIPL inked partnerships with several countries such as the UAE, the US, the UK, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, and Singapore to launch Indian payment rails in their jurisdictions.Some of the prominent international partnerships include LuLu Financial and Al Ansari Exchange (UAE), Discover Financial Services (DFS) (USA), Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) (Japan), Union Pay International (UPI) (China), PPRO Financial (UK), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), and Liquid Group, (Singapore), and Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) (Bhutan).As an inland initiative, in 2021, Induslnd Bank joined with NPCI to simplify cross-border payments or NRI remittances. The bank is said to use UPI ID to transfer money to the beneficiary. According to the agreement, Induslnd Bank will act as a gateway between the MTOs and NPCI’s UPI system for validating and settling payments into the payee’s account. With this new partnership, IndusInd Bank will become the first Indian bank to offer cross-border payments or NRI remittances via UPI. The product is in the testing phase and is expected to go live in Q2 of 2022.These partnerships are significant milestones in the evolution of the UPI payment system as it is expected to enable hassle-free low-value transactions and cross-border remittances.UPI is the cornerstone of India’s economic transformation and revolution, aiding the country to move into the future with a paperless economy, thereby curbing the money laundering activities and tax evasions. The interface has a tremendous potential to empower the development of next-generation digital platforms for lending and payments.If you wish to implement UPI in your business, write to us at&nbsp;<a class="link au mz" href="mailto:business@m2pfintech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">business@m2pfintech.com</a><a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. Follow us on&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/m2pfintech/mycompany/">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="link" href="https://twitter.com/m2pfintech">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for insightful fintech tales curated for curious minds like you.

UPI - The Driver of Economic Growth and Inclusion

<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-8-9.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Did you know that your payment card could be your best brand ambassador?It doesn’t matter whether you are a business, Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), or a bank. You can issue prepaid cards, credit cards, and debit cards that will help drive brand loyalty and revenue.Wonder how?Simple. By customizing payment cards.<h2 class="heading-node" id="be40" style="text-align: justify">Why is payment card design important?</h2>Bland, run-of-the-mill cards lack soul. They do not call or speak to customers on a subconscious level and hence do not elicit usage.On the other hand, adding a personalized twist to cards enhances the emotional bond between the cardholder and the issuer. Card customization boosts customer acquisition, retention, transaction frequency, and value.Consumers worldwide prefer card issuers that deliver cool customized cards with family/pet portraits or pictures of their choice. But businesses and banks need to remember that whatever the design personalization may be, certain standardized elements need to be consistent across cards.<h2 class="heading-node" id="1bc2" style="text-align: justify">Design standardization parameters</h2>Here are some basic parameters that we need to adhere to while designing standard yet customized payment cards.<h3 class="heading-node" id="2149" style="text-align: justify">Card size requirements</h3>It goes without saying, card design starts with opening an empty artboard. And the next step is deciding the size of the payment card. Here are some standardized card dimensions.<ul class="list-node" id="gbcsqonb1"><li>Width and height of card: 85.60 mm x 53.98 mm (3.370 in × 2.125 in)</li><li>Radius of corners: 3.175 mm, in accordance with ISO/IEC 7810#ID-1 standard</li><li>Overall breathing space: 3 mm</li></ul>The size is all set!<h3 class="heading-node" id="aa47" style="text-align: justify">Types of design</h3>Payment card design can be classified into three types.· Abstract· Conceptual· Logo-basedAbstract — Creating a payment card with shape, form, color, and gestural marks.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/two.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="ari13g4jx" width="100%" height="358">Conceptual&nbsp;— Designing based on a particular concept such as gift, meal, travel, teenagers usage, and so on.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/three.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="iosfe6k87" width="100%" height="358">Logo-based&nbsp;— Here, the designer needs to stick to the bank or card network norms and design criteria. In these cases, the requirement comes with a standard design opportunity based on the client’s brand logo and color palette.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/one.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" id="2ak8lsd0m" width="100%" height="358">Now, let’s check out key elements that need to be present in payment cards.<h2 class="heading-node" id="e02b" style="text-align: justify">Elements of a payment card</h2>Any credit, debit, or prepaid card contains certain components that are crucial to establish identity and security, and enable payment processing. Card issuers cannot compromise on these element placements at any point in time.<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-9-5.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Front side of a card&nbsp;<img src="https://m2p-website-file.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/m2p-website-file/marketing-cms/m2p-blog/2022/05/Artboard-1-copy-10-5.webp" alt="M2P Fintech" title="" width="100%" height="358">Backside of a card1. Issuing bank logo or nameThe issuing bank is the bank that provides network branded payment cards to the customers. The issuing bank follows stipulated norms for logo placement on the card and the norms vary from one card network to another.2. EMV chipThe tiny metal chip that looks like a sim card is called the EMV Chip. EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) is a global standard for credit and debit payment cards based on chip card technology.The EMV chip is a square metal chip placed on the front side of the payment card. It stores sensitive information and is a crucial security enabler. Hence no other element should be placed on the corresponding space at the back of the card. The cardholder should make sure that no damages are done to the chip as it contains a critical security code.3. Contactless iconThe Wi-Fi symbol or NFC symbol on the card’s front side is the contactless icon. This icon facilitates contactless payments without entering the Personal Identification Number (PIN) on Point Of Sale (POS) machines.4. Card network logoRuPay, Visa, and MasterCard are some of the popular card networks in India. They connect the issuing bank with the acquiring bank to facilitate online transactions. It is mandatory to place their logos on the card.5. Cardholder nameThe cardholder's name can be printed in two ways on the card. It could be embedded via embossed printing or indenting printing to provide a personalized touch and inlay feel. If the card is provided in an instant issuance process, then the cardholder's name cannot be displayed.6. Magnetic stripeThe grey magnetic stripe at the back of the card stores all the sensitive information. It can be read-only through a specialized card reader machine that receives payments. As per International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, the magnetic stripe should be placed only on the backside, in either the upper or lower position.7. Card numberThe most sensitive data on the payment card is the 14–19 digit card number. These unique series of digits help the cardholder make successful online purchases by identifying the account with the card-issuing bank. The card number can be on the backside if embedded via indenting printing, but for embossed printing, the card number should be placed only in the front.8. Card product typeEvery card has its product category name, like Platinum, Signature, Business, and Classic, to name a few. The card category can be printed on both the front and backside as per card network norms. Each category comprises specialized features and offerings that are defined by their issuing banks. This category name should be clearly printed on the card.9. Validity dateSome cards require both the issuing date and expiration date to be printed. And some contain only the expiry date. These dates help cardholders understand the validity duration of their cards. Banks track these dates and upon expiration, they send a new card to the cardholder's mailing address.10. Security codeSecurity code is also referred to as Card Verification Value (CVV), Card Identification (CID), Card Verification Code (CVC), or Card Security Code (CSC). The security code is included in the payment card to provide an additional layer of security for seamless online shopping. It is usually printed on the backside of the card and alongside the signature panel, based on the CVV type.11. HologramThe hologram proves that the card is authentic and not a duplicate one. Some of the card issuers place their holograms on the front side of the card.12. Signature panelThe signature panel comes into play whenever there is a suspicious transaction. It is usually placed on the back of the card. Businesses can always match the signature on the card with the actual signature of the cardholder to check authenticity. Every cardholder must sign on the signature panel.13. Bank detailsGenerally, the contact number of the issuing bank’s call center is included in the card. This number is intended to be of quick help if the card is not working or needs to be blocked. The issuing bank address is also displayed to help in case of a lost card, where the finder can deliver the card to the respective bank. The banks also include their terms and conditions on the card.Apart from the above-mentioned mandatory elements, card-issuing banks and businesses need their branding elements to present on the card. That’s when end customers will relate to and engage with the issuing business.So, personalizing is not just for end customers. In fact, it's more of vanity for them.&nbsp;But for card issuer banks and businesses, customization is critical.<h2 class="heading-node" id="bc67" style="text-align: justify">How we enable customized card issuance?</h2>Issuing visually attractive and customized payment cards are non-negotiable to gain consumer loyalty and brand recall. We at M2P understand how imperative it is for card issuing companies and banks to deliver innovatively designed, and customized payment cards.That’s why we co-create white-labeled and co-branded card issuance and personalization solutions for banks, NBFCs, and online businesses. Here’s how we help our client partners issue and manage customized payment cards for their customers.By fusing business requirements, customer expectations, and innovation, we deliver white-labeled and co-branded card designs that speak to the end customer. Our full-fledged, mobile-first, customizable API stack enables hassle-free onboarding and the <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/know-your-customer-kyc-the-need-for-authentication/">Know Your Customer (KYC) process</a>. We also deliver limit configuration, inbuilt security and compliance, and end-to-end support from design to dispatch.We drastically expedite card issuance time and businesses can go to market with customized cards within days. Our cards are <a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/blog/pci-dss-the-payments-armour/">PCI DSS</a>, ISO 27001, and AICPA SOC 2 compliant with centralized security updates, monitoring, patching, and remediation features. Our in-house token generation platform delivers network-branded tokenization solutions that manage the token life cycle.Leveraging our vast experience in issuing cards worldwide, we’ve put together a checklist you need to tick off before designing payment cards.Here you go.<h2 class="heading-node" id="4947" style="text-align: justify">Tick off the card design checklist</h2>✔️Fix the print-specific CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, and KEY (CMYK) color model, to get the right colors on the card.✔️The position of the bank logo/name should be fixed as per the issuing bank’s choice.✔️Make sure that no elements are placed behind the EMV chip area.✔️Use Sans Serif font for card numbers, validity date, and cardholder name.✔️Standard size and alignment must be followed for hologram, magnetic stripe, card network logo, and EMV chip.✔️Stick to the type of design your client prefers, be it abstract, conceptual, or logo-based designs.The overall look of the card should be monitored and optimized keenly, without leaving any gap in the design front. But you can also have some fun and play around with the position and alignment of elements that are not expected to follow fixed norms. But ensure you are in line with the client’s requirements.The purpose of every card differs, that is why designers should bring out the right emotions through the right design.So, what are you waiting for?Go ahead and design customized payment cards for your customers.Need help? Want to know more about designing payment cards across card networks? Or need in-depth network-specific guidelines for design?Write to us at&nbsp;business@m2pfintech.com.<a class="link" href="https://m2pfintech.com/newsletter/">Subscribe</a>&nbsp;to our newsletter and get the latest fintech news, views, and insights, directly to your inbox. 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