Visa completes Featurespace acquisition to boost fraud prevention

By Gloria Methri

Visa has completed its acquisition of Featurespace, a UK-based developer of real-time artificial intelligence (AI) payment protection technology that prevents and mitigates payment fraud and financial crime risks. The move will bolster Visa’s fraud protection capabilities and enhance security for its customers and consumers worldwide.

Visa will add Featurespace’s capabilities into its range of fraud prevention and risk-scoring offerings. By combining the two companies’ highly complementary products and tools, customers will have access to enhanced fraud protection services to help keep their businesses safe and secure, including real-time detection of sophisticated fraud attacks, without adding friction to the user experience.

Antony Cahill, President of value-added Services at Visa, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Featurespace to Visa. Both our companies have been at the forefront of using AI to solve longstanding challenges and pain points in the payments industry. Together, we will offer a valuable combination of cutting-edge technology and industry expertise to help our clients continue to grow amidst an increasingly complex threat landscape.”

Over the coming months, Featurespace’s product portfolio will be incorporated into Visa’s existing offering, expanding the available range of fraud prevention solutions and use cases. The Featurespace and Visa teams will bring together their knowledge, modelling methodologies and tools to enhance the joint offering further.

Dave Excell, Founder of Featurespace, added, “We developed our innovations to help crack even the most complex fraud cases. As part of Visa, we will be able to set a new standard in AI-powered fraud prevention and integrate our solutions into a series of products and services that will help make the world a safer place to transact.”

The Featurespace business will become part of Visa’s Risk and Identity Solutions business unit.