REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
29 June 2021
Visa is re-emphasizing the importance of using authorized and current BIN tables for both acquirers and merchants. Acquirers should ensure that their merchants are using only authorized and current BIN tables. BIN tables purchased on the internet are not accurate and lead to processing errors. Acquirers providing BIN tables to merchants must ensure their accuracy.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
24 June 2021
Visa’s EMV®-compliant Level 3 (L3) Test Set file is now available in all regions. In addition, Visa is announcing a revised estimated end date for the transition to Visa’s global L3 testing, as well as the associated impacts.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
17 June 2021
Acquirers registered in the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Compliance Program must register their DCC-enabled merchants by 13 August 2021 for the period ending 31 July 2021.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
17 June 2021
All Visa Secure Merchant Plug-in (MPI), 3DS Server (3DSS), access control server (ACS) and 3DS Software Development Kit (SDK) endpoints must install the new eCommerce G2 certificate chain by 31 October 2021. 3DS SDK endpoints must also install the new 3DS SDK Encryption Key signed by the new eCommerce G2 Issuing CA by 31 October 2021. MPI, 3DSS and ACS endpoints will be required to request and install the new (end-entity) certificates signed by the new eCommerce G2 Issuing Certificate Authority (CA) by 30 April 2022.
REGIONS: US
10 June 2021
Visa will delay changes to include credit voucher and merchandise return authorization transactions and clearing messages in the U.S. Processing Integrity Program.
REGIONS: US
3 June 2021
Visa has made numerous enhancements to the U.S. Small Business Hub at visa.com in order to further support small businesses as they continue on the path to recovery.
REGIONS: US
27 May 2021
Visa will implement changes to expand the Visa ReadyLink service in the U.S. to include select debit and prepaid products. Existing Visa ReadyLink fee programs and rates are not changing and will continue to apply to all Visa ReadyLink transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
20 May 2021
Visa is reminding clients of the mandate to support Message Level Encryption on Visa Direct APIs, and has extended the mandatory implementation date to 30 September 2021.
Read article about reminder and date extension for Visa Direct API
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
20 May 2021
Token cryptograms must be new and unique for each authorization request, and must not be stored beyond the authorization request. Effective 30 January 2022, a resubmitted or stale token authentication verification value or dynamic token verification value will result in a declined authorization request.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
6 May 2021
Updates to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Software Security Framework will support the validation of payment software intended for use on hardware terminals, as well as expand the eligibility scope to include all vendors of software that may be present in payment environments and vendors of any software that stores, processes or transmits payment data.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
29 April 2021
Visa has updated the Account Funding Transaction (AFT) Processing Guide and the Visa Direct Original Credit Transaction (OCT)—Global Implementation Guide. Clients and their partners that originate or receive AFTs and/or Visa Direct OCTs should review the updated guides for information on how to best support these transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
29 April 2021
To support the growth of cross-border Visa Direct original credit transactions (OCTs) and to reinforce the security of the payments ecosystem, Visa will introduce a number of new OCT data fields and requirements.
Read article about new original credit transaction data fields
REGIONS: US
15 April 2021
As previously announced, Visa will introduce incentive rates for certain card not present (CNP) consumer credit transactions processed using a Visa EMV Payment Token. Incentivizing greater use of tokens will improve e-commerce authorization rates and bolster security at a time when fraudsters are increasingly targeting digital and e-commerce channels. Visa strongly believes tokenization is the best way to improve the safety and security of CNP transactions and protect consumers and businesses. Visa will continuously evaluate token interchange rate performance and qualification criteria.
This incentive rate for CNP consumer credit transactions processed using a Visa EMV Payment Token will be effective April 2022 in conjunction with previously announced adjustments to certain CNP rates. The Visa EMV Payment Token rate is 9-10 bps lower than the non-tokenized rates on qualifying transactions. Merchants should consult with their acquirer to understand specific impacts of these changes.
Managing a dynamic payment network requires constant evaluation of our rate structure and making adjustments in the normal course of business. We will continue to be thoughtful that any future adjustments accurately reflect the state of the economy, the value of payment transactions and ensure economics are balanced and competitive for all parties.
REGIONS: US
5 April 2021
Visa is supporting eligible small business owners in the fuel industry by enabling Visa Transaction Advisor (VTA) for no additional charge to help combat fraud at gas pumps.
VTA offers real-time risk assessment when consumers pay for fuel at the pump, helping deter fraudulent payment attempts as fuel merchants work toward implementing EMV® technology, proven to reduce fraud.
As fuel merchants upgraded their pumps to support EMV payments last year, counterfeit fraud rates declined simultaneously. From January 1 through September 30, 2020, counterfeit fraud rates declined by 22% and counterfeit fraud dollars declined by 32%. At the end of February 2021, approximately 51% of transactions on U.S. fuel pumps were EMV (VisaNet).
Visa Transaction Advisor will be automatically enabled for one year starting on April 17, 2021 to business owners who have yet to upgrade their pumps to process EMV. Visa Transaction Advisor operates invisibly to the cardholder to ensure a positive customer experience and leverages existing payment processes so no new investment in infrastructure is needed. If a transaction is deemed risky, the tool will help small business owners by prompting the consumer to pay inside the store. This deters fraudsters who often choose to drive away instead of going inside.
Visa’s intent to migrate to EMV chip transactions for secure payments was first announced in 2011 and the liability shift date for fuel pumps was extended for more than five years in total to support solution readiness. Visa continues to work closely with merchants, acquirers, and technology providers to support EMV chip acceptance at fuel merchants.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
1 April 2021
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has published version 3.1 of the PCI PIN Security Requirements. The revised standard is effective immediately and organizations may validate to v3.0 or v3.1 through 30 September 2021. Beginning 1 October 2021, all new assessments must be performed against PCI PIN v3.1. In addition to alerting clients of the updated PIN security requirements, this article is also reminding stakeholders about other important PIN security news.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC
1 April 2021
Acquirers are reminded that the marketplace fee on foreign retailer volume became effective on 1 January 2021, and quarterly reports for transactions in the period from 1 January – 31 March 2021 must be submitted to Visa by 15 April 2021.
REGIONS: US, Canada, CEMEA
25 March 2021
Visa will implement changes to the Real Time Visa Account Updater (VAU) service effective 16 April 2021 to support account replacement during the processing of credit voucher and merchandise return transactions. With this integration, clients can minimize declines due to outdated card information used for merchandise return transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
25 March 2021
Acquirers and their merchants are reminded that effective 16 April 2021, the deferred authorization indicator is required for card-present and card-absent deferred transaction authorizations to help ensure more authorization approvals. Issuers are also reminded to use the deferred authorization indicator in their authorization decision processing.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
18 March 2021
Effective 1 June 2021, all cross-border Visa Direct original credit transactions (OCTs) involving senders or recipients in Canada must contain the recipient address, in addition to the currently required data elements.
REGIONS: US
16 March 2021
Digital payments have empowered businesses large and small to continue serving their customers since the start of the pandemic. From the ability to tap a card or phone to avoid handling cash, to enabling the exponential shift to commerce online through ecommerce and new business models such as curbside pickup and delivery, Visa is proud of the role we have played in helping keep American businesses open during this extraordinary time. We believe the steps we have taken and are taking today will further support the recovery and will benefit businesses and consumers alike.
Recognizing U.S. businesses are still facing many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Visa has decided to significantly modify its planned April 2021 business release to delay the implementation of a number of interchange rate changes.
Earlier during the pandemic, Visa made changes to manage interchange, including an interchange reduction for supermarkets and grocery stores early last summer and deferral of any interchange changes for consumer card present retailer transactions. Now, as part of this delay, Visa is also postponing adjustments to rates applying to the ecommerce / card not present (CNP) channel until April 2022. The combined impact of Visa’s actions to support businesses and consumers has led to an overall decrease in interchange rates during the pandemic. Visa is committed to maintaining stability in our payments system and will not make any future interchange rate changes in the U.S. for another year while the economy recovers.
Managing a dynamic payment network requires constant evaluation of our rate structure and making adjustments in the normal course of business to ensure we incentivize merchants to accept Visa payments, consumers to use our products and financial institutions to serve their customers. We will continue to be thoughtful that any future adjustments accurately reflect the state of the economy, the value of payment transactions and ensure economics are balanced and competitive for all parties.
Merchants should consult with their acquirer to understand specific impacts of these changes.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
25 February 2021
Visa is clarifying that status check messages must only be used for transactions at automated fuel dispensers (AFDs). All other use-cases must use Account Verification messages.
REGIONS: US
25 February 2021
Clients are reminded that, effective 16 April 2021, Visa will implement changes to V.I.P System processing for credit voucher and merchandise return authorization transactions, apply new edits during stand-in processing and define valid response codes for merchandise return authorization requests. Visa also reminds U.S. acquirers that, effective 1 July 2021, the Processing Integrity Program will be extended to include credit voucher and merchandise return authorization transactions and clearing messages.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
11 February 2021
Visa is providing information about common account takeover fraud techniques, along with best practices to mitigate the risk of such fraud.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
4 February 2021
Effective 15 October 2022, Visa will discontinue support of 3-D Secure 1.0.2 and related technology.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
14 January 2021
Visa is requiring that all partners, acquirers and online merchants update outdated logos at merchant checkout.
Read article about reminder updates to the current credential-on-file
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
14 January 2021
Visa has published two guides to help clients navigate the different entities in the Visa acceptance ecosystem, along with side-by-side comparisons of operational and technical requirements.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
14 January 2021
Visa will update dispute rule language and make additional revisions for clarity and consistency based on client feedback during the COVID-19 pandemic.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
7 January 2021
Visa’s production version of the EMV®-compliant Level 3 (L3) test files is now available. Clients may begin using the latest build to perform production L3 testing in accordance with Visa’s global L3 testing requirements. In addition, Visa is also announcing updates to the L3 transition timeline.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
7 January 2021
The Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) requirements for strong customer authentication (SCA) for e-commerce in the European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom (UK) also have implications for payment ecosystem participants outside of the EEA or UK. Visa is providing an update on how these changes may affect clients and entities providing services to EEA/UK issuers and merchants acquired in the EEA/UK who should ensure they are familiar with the potential impact to their business from SCA and take necessary steps.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
7 January 2021
To ensure a secure and compliant payment environment, organizations using cloud service providers must understand the risks and responsibilities under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Visa reminds clients, including sponsored agents and merchants, to list all facilities that the PCI DSS assessment covers (retail outlets, corporate offices, data centers, call centers, etc.) in the PCI Attestation of Compliance (AOC) and/or Report on Compliance (ROC) documents.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
24 December 2020
Visa is providing a reminder of best practices to manage dispute processing in light of recent travel restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While Visa has not made any changes to its dispute rules or processing procedures, this article includes helpful reminders of best practices within the existing rules.
REGIONS: US
17 December 2020
Effective 1 July 2021, Visa will extend its U.S. Processing Integrity Program to include credit voucher and merchandise return authorization transactions and clearing messages.
REGIONS: US
17 December 2020
To provide more flexible and convenient payout options for Visa clients and customers, in January 2021, Visa is introducing a new way to process original credit transactions (OCTs) called Deferred Delivery OCT.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
15 December 2020
Visa is reminding acquirers of the importance of accurately and consistently populating the Merchant Name / Descriptor field, as well as the policy and framework, best practices and additional resources for further information.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
3 December 2020
Visa is removing the previously-announced requirement to provide enhanced statement descriptors for transactions at merchants that offer free trials or discounted introductory promotions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
19 November 2020
Effective with the April 2021 VisaNet Business Enhancements release, Visa will enhance Visa Account Updater (VAU) reporting to support the new terms "issuing Bank Identification Number (BIN)" and "Acquiring Identifier," which have replaced the term "BIN."
REGIONS: US
12 November 2020
As part of the normal course of business, Visa routinely evaluates interchange rates to ensure the economics and value of transactions are balanced and competitive for all parties. Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy, Visa determined it would not make any structural changes to the payments ecosystem over the last year. This included delaying previously announced changes to Visa’s published U.S. credit interchange rates and structure from April 2020 to April 2021.
Visa will be implementing these previously delayed updates in April 2021 with a small number of changes to reflect the evolution of digital payments to online, enhance security and optimize acceptance and usage.
Specifically, we have decided to leave consumer credit card present retail rates unchanged in light of the fact that in-person retail continues to recover. In addition, Visa will provide a lower rate for certain card not present (CNP) consumer credit transactions processed using a Visa EMV Payment Token as of October 2021. Incentivizing greater use of tokens will improve e-commerce authorization rates and bolster security at a time when fraudsters are increasingly targeting digital and e-commerce channels.
Visa is committed to facilitating secure and reliable digital commerce and ensuring the stability and resiliency of the payments ecosystem. All participants in the payments ecosystem derive a tremendous amount of value from the ability to pay with, and accept, electronic transactions. Digital payments provide businesses with numerous benefits including access to more consumers and new technologies to help them protect and grow their businesses.
REGIONS: US, Canada, CEMEA, Europe
29 October 2020
Visa will activate the RDR service for all issuers / issuer processors effective with the April 2021 Visa Resolve Online release. In addition, Visa is reminding acquirers and processors of required changes that must be made to support RDR.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
22 October 2020
Visa has updated its rules and definitions related to mass transit merchants and published new best practice implementation guides.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
22 October 2020
The Visa Rules have been updated to support Persistent FX for transactions requiring currency conversion.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
22 October 2020
Visa has updated the Account Funding Transaction (AFT) Processing Guide and the Visa Direct Original Credit Transaction (OCT)—Global Implementation Guide. Clients and their partners that originate or receive AFTs and/or OCTs should review the updated guides for information on how to best support these transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
15 October 2020
The printing of merchant, terminal and card acceptor identification numbers on transaction receipts will no longer be permitted, effective 15 October 2022, as part of ongoing efforts to promote security for the payments system.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
1 October 2020
Visa has updated, expanded and clarified its digital wallet policy framework to provide greater clarity for clients globally. These changes will create a new digital wallet category (Stored Value Digital Wallet) effective 17 April 2021, and clarify Visa’s existing policy.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
24 September 2020
Visa has updated its rules related to cardholder verification method (CVM) requirements for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) transactions. Visa is also announcing rules updates to phase out paper-based DCC.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
10 September 2020
Effective 1 April 2021, Visa will update the original credit transaction (OCT) requirements to clarify that an OCT does not require the presence of expiration date or Card Verification Value 2 (CVV2) data and must not be declined due to the absence of either of these data elements. If expiration date or CVV2 data is included in an OCT, it must be accurate and not expired. This rule clarification will provide clearer instructions for originating entities and receiving issuers and is intended to improve OCT authorization performance.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
10 September 2020
Visa will update its rules for Visa Secure to enhance the program and account for new functionality for processing EMV® 3DS (3-D Secure) non-payment transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
10 September 2020
Effective 16 April 2021, Visa will implement stand-in processing for non-reloadable prepaid card recurring and installment authorizations approved by issuers in violation of the Visa Rules.
Read article about stand-in processing for non-reloadable prepaid cards
REGIONS: US, Canada, LAC, Europe
3 September 2020
Effective 17 April 2021, Visa will update its rules for declined transaction resubmission and the use of authorization response codes. Additionally, response code descriptions will be aligned with descriptions in the V.I.P. System technical specifications and some response codes will move to different response code categories.
Read article about updates to rules for declined transaction resubmission
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
27 August 2020
Effective with the April 2022 VisaNet Business Enhancements release, Visa will implement eight-digit issuing Bank Identification Numbers (BINs) in accordance with the transition announced by the International Organization for Standardization to an eight-digit format from the current six-digit standard. Visa is now simplifying requirements for stakeholders in recognition of the current business environment.
Read article about numerics initiative simplified requirements
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
27 August 2020
Visa will update the Visa Fraud Monitoring Program (VFMP) standard timeline and Dispute Condition 10.5 liability shift rules to improve the efficiency of the VFMP.
REGION: US
27 August 2020
Visa Business Solutions has launched the Data Quality Program to analyze level III data received in transactions against published data requirements.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
20 August 2020
To support issuer and merchant enablement for EMV® 3-D Secure (EMV 3DS) and assist in the creation of consistent EMV 3DS authentication challenge experiences, Visa has updated its User Experience Guidelines for EMV 3DS. The updated UX guidelines can be found on the Visa Developer Center.
Read article about updated EMV 3-D secure user experience guidelines
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
20 August 2020
Application-based mobile payment transactions are quickly expanding into additional merchant segments. To limit unnecessary declines, Visa encourages clients to be aware of this transaction method.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
13 August 2020
Visa Secure certificates will only be issued with a one-year validity beginning 1 September 2020.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
6 August 2020
The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has extended the effective dates of the PCI PIN key block requirements for Phase 2 and Phase 3. The PIN Security Program and Visa’s requirement to exchange keys in the key block format will align with the revised effective dates.
REGION: US
6 August 2020
Due to continued fraudulent fallback attacks originating in Brazil, effective 16 October 2020, Visa will start blocking ATM and POS magnetic stripe fallback transactions from U.S. or Canada-issued cards.
REGION: US
6 August 2020
Acquirers are reminded that they must ensure that their merchants and third party agents, such as independent sales organizations, are in compliance with Visa's surcharging and cash discounting rules. This includes reviewing and approving all sales materials, collateral and technologies provided by third party agents to merchants that support surcharging or cash discounts and monitoring merchants for non-compliant practices.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
6 August 2020
After making signature capture and validation optional for all merchants globally, resulting changes are required to the Visa Easy Payment Service. Visa will sunset retrieval requests along with dispute compliance rights related to the presence or validity of signatures on transaction receipts after 16 October 2020.
Read article about sunset of retrieval requests and changes to Visa easy payment
REGION: US
6 August 2020
Visa will sunset retrieval requests effective 16 October 2020, as signature validation is no longer mandatory, and will continue to uphold commitments to Special Interest Group for IIAS Standards and support Healthcare Auto-Substantiation Transaction Receipt Requests.
Read article about sunset of retrieval requests and impact on healthcare
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
30 July 2020
Visa has updated the Account Funding Transaction (AFT) Processing Guide and the Visa Direct Original Credit Transaction (OCT)—Global Implementation Guide. Clients and their partners that originate or receive AFTs and/or Visa Direct OCTs should review the updated guides for information on how to best support these transactions.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
23 July 2020
To meet Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) compliance commitments and maintain the highest standards of system security, Visa will be upgrading the Visa File Exchange Service (VFES) platform to utilize stronger key exchange key algorithms and session connection cipher suites, while concurrently decommissioning older and less secure algorithms and Transport Layer Security (TLS) cipher suites effective 14 October 2020. Clients must ensure that their systems are ready or updated to support new requirements in order to successfully connect to the VFES platform once these changes are in effect.
Read article about Visa file exchange service key exchange key algorithm
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
2 July 2020
Visa will retire the section of its domestic ATM acceptance rule that allows an ATM acquirer to selectively deny cardholder access to the Visa Global ATM Network.
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
2 July 2020
Effective 17 April 2021, Visa will update its rules to globalize requirements for the correction of duplicate or erroneous clearing transactions.
Read article about Visa rules will be updated to globalize duplicate transaction data
REGIONS: US, AP, Canada, CEMEA, LAC, Europe
2 July 2020
The deferred authorization indicator on a deactivated token in Field 63.3 now has the appended value of 5602 for all token authorization requests submitted by transit agencies.
Read article about new deferred authorization message reason code
Visa published an easy-to-use guide to help smaller merchants navigate the world of transaction disputes. For more information, please see Dispute Management Guidelines for Visa Merchants on Visa.com.
The updated resource defines required procedures in response to an account data compromise.
As merchants in United States enable their payment card acceptance infrastructure for EMV chip technology starting October 1, 2015, counterfeit fraud will increasingly migrate to acceptance segments that have not implemented EMV chip technology, such as automated fuel dispensers (AFDs). This will lead to counterfeit fraud chargeback liability for fuel merchants if AFD EMV chip acceptance enablement is not completed by October 1, 2020.
Visa prepaid and debit cards are popular forms of payment at the register. Visa’s Partial Authorization service provides an alternative to declining a transaction when the card’s available balance is not sufficient to approve a transaction in full. Participating issuers return an authorization response with an approval for a portion of the original amount requested, enabling the remainder of the transaction amount to be paid by other means using split tender functionality.
More webinars and documents containing in-depth information designed to help Visa merchants navigate acceptance, fraud, data security, authorization and more. Download, print and keep them on hand at your business.
This digest consists of summaries only and does not supersede or modify Visa Business News publications. Please contact your Acquirer for further information about any publications. Actual Visa Business News articles are not public materials and should not be treated as public documents, e.g., posting on merchant websites, etc.
The Visa Business News was launched to Europe clients on August 11, 2016. Prior to that, announcements were communicated via Visa Europe Member Letter.
