Thredd 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 in to their account.
For more information about usingThredd API to create and manage cards, see Card Management APIs.
Types of Cards
Thredd supports the creation and usage of cards for different purposes:
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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.
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Debit cards: Thredd debit cards provide all the functionality of a typical debit card. The Thredd card must always hold a sufficient balance to enable a card payment.
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Credit cards: On the Thredd system there is no distinction between a prepaid 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.
Key Attributes of a Card
Below are examples of some of the attributes that are linked to a card.
|
Card Attribute |
Description |
|---|---|
|
PAN |
16-digit permanent account number (PAN) that is typically embossed on a physical card. |
|
Public Token |
Unique 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, without needing to store or process the full PAN. (The public token is internal to Thredd only. This is separate from a digital token (DPAN) created using the tokenisation service, for online merchant or mobile transactions.) |
|
Expiry Date |
The card's expiry date. This date determines when you will need to renew or replace the card. |
|
Status |
The current status of the card (e.g., active or inactive). A card issued in an active status can be immediately used (provided it has an available balance). A card issued in an inactive state must first be activated before it can be used. |
|
Cardholder Name |
The cardholder's name, as printed on the card. |
|
Address |
The 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). You can configure an alternative delivery address for cards such as corporate cards or prepaid cards. |
|
Telephone |
The telephone number linked to the card. Note that for certain services, such as tokenisation, the linked mobile phone number may be used for sending SMS notifications to the cardholder. |
|
CVC2 |
The Card Verification Value (CVV) on a credit card or debit card is a 3 digit number on VISA, MasterCard and Discover branded credit and debit cards. Cardholders are typically required to enter the CVV during any online or cardholder not present transactions. |
|
Available balance |
The 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. |
|
PIN |
The PIN associated with the card. The cardholder enters their PIN when using the card at an ATM or Point of Sale (POS) terminal. |
For a list of additional configurable card attributes, please refer to thePhysical Cards Configuration Guide.
How to Configure your Cards
Many card configuration options are set up at the time when you first implement your card program through Thredd. Options are specified using your Thredd Product Setup Form (PSF)
The Product Setup Form is a spreadsheet that provides details of your Thredd account setup. The details are used to configure your Thredd account.. For more information, see the Key Concepts Guide and Getting Started Guide.
For information on how to set up and configure your card programme to support physical (printed) card production, see the Physical Cards Configuration Guide.
If you are using virtual cards, details of how to configure your virtual cards are covered in the Virtual Cards Guide.
Card Transaction and Balance Management
Thredd provides APIs to enable you and your cardholders to view transaction history and the latest balance on the card.
We provide systems to enable you to flexibly configure and control the card transaction authorisation process. For details, see Payment Processing.