Visa has launched a new program to make life easier for financial institutions and fintechs looking to work more closely together. Announced on May 21, 2025, Visa Commercial Integrated Partners aims to improve how Visa’s commercial products are embedded into third-party business applications, using a mix of APIs, partner collaboration, and streamlined onboarding.
This is not a dramatic technology overhaul. Rather, it’s a structural improvement designed to accelerate commercial innovation across the fintech ecosystem.
Reducing Barriers for Commercial Payments Innovation
The new program offers a way for fintechs and business application providers to integrate Visa payment capabilities into their platforms more efficiently. The big idea? Let financial institutions that use Visa’s commercial platform tap into these integrations without needing to build direct technical connections to each application; think ERP systems or fleet management tools.
“Visa Commercial Integrated Partners represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower financial technology providers and financial institutions with innovative digital payment solutions.“
-Darren Parslow, Global Head of Visa Commercial Solutions
That could mean less time spent on custom development, less cost for banks, and faster time to market for integrated solutions.
A Real-World Example: Car IQ
Visa highlighted Car IQ, a company in the fleet and vehicle tech space, as one of its first partners in the program. Through this collaboration, Visa’s financial institution clients will be able to access Car IQ’s software and enable in-app payments using virtual cards (for example, at fuel stations) without extensive supplier onboarding or development.
Visa says this model could help partners avoid 18 to 24 months of due diligence and project management, which is a substantial gain for anyone familiar with how long these types of integrations can take.
Car IQ’s CEO, Sterling Pratz, explained that enabling vehicles to act as payment credentials opens the door for issuing banks to recapture spend that currently flows through legacy programs or closed-loop networks.
More Options for Banks, Less Development Work
By joining the program, financial institutions gain access to pre-integrated fintech partners and embedded virtual card payments across ERPs, expense platforms, and mobile apps. They also benefit from enhanced transaction data and controls, along with solutions built on consistent security and privacy standards.
Visa’s Darren Parslow, Global Head of Visa Commercial Solutions, noted that the goal is to help partners innovate faster and deliver better payment experiences while reducing their development and distribution costs.
Importantly, this initiative also enhances the commercial offerings that banks can deliver to their own clients, helping them stay competitive in a fast-moving market.
Built for Global Scale, Adapted to Local Markets
Visa is positioning the program to serve both multinational institutions and local startups. The framework supports consistent integration models across regions, while giving Visa and its partners the flexibility to meet local data, security, and compliance standards.
By working closely with regional fintechs, Visa aims to ensure that its solutions work not only globally, but also relevantly in each market.
Key takeaways for fintech startups
If you’re operating in commercial payments, fleet, ERP, or embedded finance, here’s what Visa’s new program means:
- It simplifies the path to embedding Visa commercial payment solutions into business platforms.
- Financial institutions can use integrations already built by fintechs like Car IQ, reducing the need for direct technical builds.
- The program may significantly cut down the time and cost of onboarding for both fintechs and banks.
- Visa is offering a structured way to bring commercial payment solutions to market faster, while aligning with regional requirements.
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