Launch a branded card programme
Issue your own debit or prepaid cards to customers. Below is the product stack you need, with verified European providers for each layer - compare by EEA data residency, licence and regulator.
How the stack fits together
A card programme is three contracts that must agree with each other: the BIN sponsor that puts you on Visa or Mastercard, the issuing platform and processor that run the cards, and the KYC layer that decides who may hold one. Accounts and wallet provisioning can wait for launch day but are expensive to retrofit - decide early whether cards draw on balances you hold (then you need IBANs) and whether customers will expect Apple Pay from the first transaction. The full sequence: how to launch a card programme in Europe.
Step 1 — Issue the cards required
Unless you hold your own licence, you need a sponsor bank BIN plus card-issuing software.
What to check: Ask whether sponsor and issuing platform are one company or two, who holds the scheme relationship, and whether your BIN can move with you if you change processor.
In the catalogue — BIN sponsor: 21 live providers, 10 with data in the EEA; 17 with their own EEA passport, 3 able to issue credit. Card issuing software: 62 live providers, 30 with data in the EEA; 21 also sponsor the BIN, so issuing and licence come in one contract.
Browse all: BIN sponsor · Card issuing software
Step 2 — Open accounts / IBANs optional
If cards are funded from balances, you need accounts and IBANs behind them.
What to check: Check which country codes the IBANs carry in your markets, and whether client money sits with a bank (guaranteed) or an EMI (safeguarded).
In the catalogue — IBAN sponsor: 52 live providers, 37 with data in the EEA; 21 IBAN country codes between them, 34 documenting SEPA Instant. BaaS: 61 live providers, 43 with data in the EEA; 9 on a banking licence, 34 on an e-money licence.
Browse all: IBAN sponsor · BaaS
Step 3 — Verify customers required
Onboarding and AML checks are mandatory before issuing.
What to check: Confirm your sponsor accepts the KYC vendor - many sponsors certify or mandate specific vendors.
- Authologic EU core Poland
- Fourthline EU core Netherlands
- iDenfy EU core Lithuania
In the catalogue — KYC/KYB: 35 live providers, 18 with data in the EEA; document checks at 23, biometrics at 20, business (KYB) checks at 13 and national eID at 3.
Browse all: KYC/KYB
Step 4 — Add to Apple / Google Pay optional
Provision cards into mobile wallets for tap-to-pay.
What to check: Check that both VTS and MDES are supported and that push provisioning from your app is part of the scope, not a second project.
- Enfuce EU core Finland
- Giesecke+Devrient EU core Germany
- IDEMIA EU core France
In the catalogue — Tokenization – X-Pays: 18 live providers, 10 with data in the EEA; 12 EU-core.
Browse all: Tokenization – X-Pays
Sovereignty notes
- The card scheme will be Visa/Mastercard (the elephant in the room) - but data residency, the IBAN and the licence can all stay in the EEA.
- Filter for a local IBAN and iOS NFC (EEA HCE) if you need tap-to-pay on iPhone.