Introduction to Cards

Cards

Thredd provides APIs to create cards, which can be either physical cards or virtual cards.
Physical cards are printed and sent to the cardholder. Virtual cards are not printed, but can be linked to a card image which is displayed to the cardholder when they log into their account.

Types of cards

Thredd supports the creation and usage of cards for different purposes:

  • Prepaid cards and gift cards - the card is loaded with a prepaid amount that is available for the cardholder to spend. The card is not allowed to go into negative balance and you can provide a facility to enable your cardholders to load additional funds to the card if required.

  • Debit and Credit cards - on the Thredd system there is no distinction between a debit card and a credit card. If you offer your cardholders a credit facility, you will need to have a separate arrangement with them relating to overdraft charges and loading the card with an available funds limit in accordance with their allowed overdraft facility. The Thredd card must always hold a sufficient balance to enable a card payment.

Card manufacturers

You can submit a request to create a physical card which Thredd will send to your card manufacturer. Note that you will need to sign a separate agreement with the card manufacturer. For a list of card manufacturers supported by Thredd, contact your Implementation Manager.

Key Attributes of a card

Below is a list of some of the most important attributes that are linked to a card

Card AttributeDescription
PAN16-digit Permanent Account Number (PAN) that is typically embossed on a physical card.
publicTokenUnique Thredd token that is generated when a card is created and is always linked to the card. You can use the public token to query and update your cards.
expiryDateThe card's expiry date. This date determines when you will need to renew or replace the card.
statusThe current status of the card. All cards are issued in an inactive state. Cards must first be activated before they can be used.
Cardholder NameThe cardholder's name, as printed on the card.
addressThe address that is linked to the card. Note that this address may be used for sending replacement cards, and for payment authorisations that use the Address Verification Service (AVS).
mobileThe telephone number linked to the card.
CVVThe Card Verification Value (CVV / CVC2) on a credit card or debit card is a 3 digit number on VISA, MasterCard and Discover branded credit and debit cards. Cardholder's are typically required to enter the CVV during any online or cardholder not present transactions.
DPANA digital PAN (digital token), provided by Visa or Mastercard, that can be used instead of the PAN in card transactions.
availableBalanceThe available balance on the card. This balance is adjusted after any transaction on the card that affects the available balance, such as a payment authorisation.
PINThe Personal Identification Number (PIN) associated with the card. The cardholder enters their PIN when using the card at an ATM or Point of Sale (POS) terminal.