Card forms
Every card is either virtual or physical. You choose the form when you create or assign the card — it cannot be changed afterward.Virtual cards
A virtual card has no physical representation. It includes a PAN, expiration date, and CVV for digital transactions and is available immediately after creation.- Created through the Create Card endpoint.
- No activation required — the card is ready to use as soon as the
card.create.succeededwebhook fires. - Does not support ATM withdrawal.
Physical cards
A physical card is a pre-manufactured card that must be assigned to a cardholder and activated before use.- Assigned through the Assign Card endpoint.
- Requires activation before first use.
- Supports ATM withdrawal (for eligible BINs).
Comparison
| Feature | Virtual card | Physical card |
|---|---|---|
| How to issue | Create Card | Assign Card |
| Activation required | No | Yes |
| ATM withdrawal | Not supported | Supported |
| Time to first use | Immediate | After activation |
Card modes
Every card operates in one of two funding modes: Single or Share. The mode determines how funds flow between your issuing balance and the card.Single mode
Single mode works like a prepaid card. Funds are transferred from your issuing balance into the card at creation time.- The issuing balance must be greater than or equal to the
card_limitat creation time, or the request fails. - Supports recharge (add funds) and withdraw (remove funds).
- Does not support changing the card limit after creation.
- When the card is cancelled, the remaining balance is returned to the issuing balance automatically.
Share mode
Share mode works like a debit card. The card draws directly from your issuing balance, with spending deducted in real time.- No prior deposit is required — the card can be created even if the issuing balance is less than the
card_limit. - The
card_limitacts as a spending cap, not a pre-funded amount. - Supports changing the card limit after creation.
- Supports recharge (increases
card_available_balancewithout transferring funds) and withdraw. - No refund is needed on cancellation since no funds were transferred into the card.
Comparison
| Feature | Single mode | Share mode |
|---|---|---|
| Funding mechanism | Pre-funded from issuing balance | Draws from issuing balance in real time |
| Balance requirement at creation | Issuing balance ≥ card_limit | No requirement |
| Card limit changes | Not supported | Supported |
| Recharge | Transfers funds from issuing balance into the card; increases card_available_balance | Increases card_available_balance without transferring funds |
| Withdraw | Returns funds from the card to issuing balance; decreases card_available_balance | Decreases card_available_balance without returning funds |
| Cancellation refund | Remaining balance returned automatically | No refund needed |
Card settings
You configure these settings when creating or assigning a card:| Setting | Description | Changeable after creation |
|---|---|---|
| Card form | VIRTUAL or PHYSICAL | No |
| Card mode | SINGLE or SHARE | No |
| Settlement currency | USD or SGD | No |
| Card limit | Maximum spending amount for the card | Share mode only |
| Spending controls | Per-transaction spending limits | Yes — see Spending controls |
| MCC controls | Allowed or blocked merchant category codes | Yes — see MCC controls |
Next steps
- Quickstart — Issue your first virtual card
- Create cardholders — Register cardholder identities before issuing cards