Nexi, Visa partner to modernise card issuing for German banks

By Aarav Garg

Nexi and Visa have entered into a strategic partnership to expand managed card issuing solutions in Germany, as banks look to modernise payments infrastructure and keep pace with evolving customer expectations.

The agreement will enable Nexi to deliver end-to-end issuing services for banks offering Visa cards, covering implementation, operations, compliance and ongoing product innovation. The model is designed to reduce operational complexity while allowing banks to accelerate time-to-market for new card propositions.

“This partnership with Visa will accelerate a paradigm shift in the way issuers in Germany are supported by third-party specialists like Nexi,” said Christian Segersven, Co-lead of Issuing Business in Nexi Group. “Serving more than 100 banks and millions of cardholders, we provide banks fully managed, end-to-end issuing products targeting individual cardholder needs with digital-first experiences. This enables banks to move faster and invest where it matters most, deepening customer relationships, enhancing journeys, and growing long-term customer value.”

Payments ecosystems are becoming increasingly complex, driven by advances in technology, stricter security requirements, and growing demand for seamless digital experiences. Against this backdrop, the partnership reflects a broader industry shift towards outsourced, managed services.

“We are pleased to partner with Nexi to support the next wave of payments innovation in Germany,” said Tobias Czekalla, Country Head, Visa Germany. “Nexi brings a proven ability to deliver scalable payments capabilities and a new era of fully managed issuing products, and this collaboration recognizes the need for banks to modernize faster while benefiting from Visa’s global network, innovation drive and security expertise.”

Through its “Nexi Ready” platform, the company will support German banks in launching a range of card products, including premium offerings for affluent customers, SME and business cards with integrated controls, and digital-first solutions aimed at younger users. The fully managed approach allows banks to focus on customer engagement and product differentiation, rather than backend processes.

The model builds on Nexi’s experience in Italy, where similar managed issuing services have already been deployed. Visa will contribute its global payments expertise, including capabilities in tokenisation, security and innovation.