How to Launch a Card Program in 90 Days

In the fast moving world of payments, speed to market can be the difference between first-mover advantage and missed opportunity. Whether you’re a fintech start-up, digital bank, or an established financial institution modernising your offerings, launching a card program in 90 days is not only possible – it’s essential.

At Change Financial, we specialise in helping businesses go live faster with flexible, secure and scalable card issuing solutions, with an experienced team alongside you every step of the way. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you move from idea to launch in just three months.

Phase 1: Planning & Partner Selection (Days 1–15)

Key Objectives:

• Define your goals, target market, and product scope
• Choose the right technology and issuing partners
• Begin compliance planning

Checklist:

• Determine card type (prepaid, debit, credit)
• Decide on digital, virtual, or physical card delivery
• Select a Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) provider like Vertexon
• Confirm BIN sponsorship and network (e.g. Mastercard)
• Map out key compliance obligations (e.g. KYC, AML, PCI DSS)

Tip:
Choose partners that provide pre-certified, ready-to-launch solutions. This eliminates delays caused by technical or regulatory uncertainty.

Phase 2: Card Program Design & Integration (Days 16–45)

Key Objectives:

• Design your card product and user experience
• Configure your tech stack and start integration
• Begin regulatory documentation and onboarding

Checklist:

• Finalise card design (branding, embossing, packaging if physical)
• Integrate APIs into your core platform (e.g. via Vertexon sandbox)
• Configure account, card and transaction rules
• Start onboarding process with issuing bank and card network
• Begin marketing and go-to-market (GTM) planning

Tip:
Use sandbox environments to speed up integration and test your product in real-time before live certification.

Phase 3: Testing, Certification & Pre-Launch (Days 46–75)

Key Objectives:

• Complete testing and ensure platform readiness
• Finalise program documentation and approvals
• Prepare for launch

Checklist:

• Simulate card and transaction flows with tools like PaySim
• Pass network and compliance certification (PCI, EFTPOS if applicable)
• Load initial test cards and run user testing (UAT)
• Train internal support teams
• Finalise marketing materials, FAQs, and customer onboarding flows

Tip:
Work with partners that offer built-in testing and certification to streamline this phase.

Phase 4: Go Live & Optimise (Days 76–90)

Key Objectives:

• Launch your card program to the public
• Monitor performance and feedback
• Optimise early-stage experience

Checklist:

• Launch digital wallet provisioning (Apple Pay / Google Pay)
• Activate live card issuing and load funds
• Monitor key KPIs (transactions, activations, declines)
• Capture early user feedback
• Begin scaling outreach and acquisition efforts

Tip:
Start small with a controlled launch, then scale based on feedback and data insights.

Launching a card program in 90 days requires the right technology, regulatory foresight, and experienced partners. With Vertexon and PaySim, Change Financial provides a complete solution for banks and fintechs looking to launch fast – without sacrificing security, flexibility or scale.

Want to accelerate your card launch?
Contact us to learn how Change can help you go from idea to issue – in under 90 days.