Visa has announced its Flexible Credential feature is now rolling out in the United States and the UAE, giving cardholders the ability to access multiple funding sources through a single card. The launch marks a significant expansion of a product already live in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What Is the Visa Flexible Credential?
The Visa Flexible Credential allows customers to use one card to pay from different accounts — whether debit, credit, or buy now, pay later (BNPL) — depending on the transaction. Cardholders can set rules inside a mobile app, for example automatically routing smaller purchases to debit and larger ones to a BNPL plan.
Reuters reported that the payments processor is responding to clear consumer demand: a Visa study found that 51% of cardholders want the ability to access multiple accounts and funding sources through a single credential.
Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of personal finance firm WalletHub, explained the appeal: "Most people think of their finances on a month-to-month basis. Breaking down the cost of an item helps people with their financial decisions and allows retailers to sell more."
UAE Launch: Visa Partners with Liv Bank
In the UAE, Visa has partnered with Liv Bank — the first digital bank in the MENA region to adopt the Flexible Credential. The product is designed primarily for frequent travellers, letting Liv customers access multiple currency wallets from a single card.
At launch, the offering supports five currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and AUD. The Flexible Credential automatically routes each transaction to the wallet matching the local currency, whether the cardholder is paying in-store or online.
US Launch: Visa Teams Up with Affirm
For the US rollout, Visa has joined forces with BNPL fintech Affirm. The Affirm Card — already used by more than 1.4 million consumers — will use the Flexible Credential to let users choose between standard debit and pay-over-time options at the point of sale.
Affirm CEO Max Levchin said the company is focused on delivering a product "that seamlessly brings debit and credit together, without late or hidden fees."
Fintechs and Banks: A Growing Partnership
Visa's Global Head of Consumer Products, Mark Nelsen, said the company plans to expand the Flexible Credential into Europe in the coming months. He also highlighted the broader trend of cooperation between fintechs and legacy financial institutions.
"It's a little bit easier for the fintechs to get started on this," Nelsen said. "But as the ecosystem matures, you'll see some legacy banks start to take advantage of it as well."
Such partnerships allow both parties to unlock new revenue streams — an important dynamic as digital disruption continues to reshape the payments industry.
