Chinese cross-border payment company Payful has launched a cloud-native Visa charge-card programme for corporate and merchant clients through its subsidiary in Hong Kong.
Built on the SmartVista platform developed by banking software firm BPC, this initiative targets businesses needing flexible digital card solutions.
Corporate clients can now manage business spending through virtual Visa charge cards hosted in the cloud.
Merchants gain control over payments, alongside real-time transaction visibility and digital card protections.
Payful adopted a cloud-based issuing model to deploy modern card functionality rapidly while keeping operating costs low. Seeking to support long-term expansion plans, Payful selected BPC for its subscription-based pricing model and continuous product evolution capabilities.
Upgrading cloud capabilities for faster card deployment
Upgrading to a cloud-ready issuing stack allows Payful to launch new card offerings without custom coding. Six Visa charge-card products tailored for corporate purchasing, travel, and business credit are currently available.
Security for every operation is managed through an integrated fraud prevention layer. This system combines adaptive transactional scoring with 3D Secure (3DS) 2.0 functionality, an authentication protocol used to verify digital card transactions.
Using the integration capabilities of SmartVista, Payful connected its core banking system via CBSGate application programming interfaces (APIs). A newly introduced notification service sends real-time transactional updates directly to merchants and cardholders.
Real-time updates and direct account settlement
Cloud infrastructure links each virtual Visa card directly to funds stored in separate merchant settlement accounts at Payful.
This configuration allows businesses to settle supplier invoices or employee travel and expense claims instantly, bypassing the need to move funds to an external digital wallet.
Future expansion into major export markets
Following its initial debut via the Hong Kong subsidiary, Payful plans to expand these services.
Replicating this corporate card model in major export markets across Oceania, Europe, and the Americas remains a priority for the payment provider.
“With BPC’s support, we have built a future-proven issuing business within a year,”
said Ben Wang, General Manager of Card Business Unit, International Division, Payful.
“Merchants can now sort their settlement funds through Visa credentials, simplifying supplier payments and employee travel while keeping fraud in check.”
“Payful needed a partner who would allow them to innovate at fintech speed,”
said Nikhil Gujral, Head of Sales, APAC, BPC.
“Our cloud-native microservices architecture allowed that and offered Payful the ability to scale the programme to new jurisdictions whenever they are ready following the Hong Kong debut.”
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by freepik via Magnific