Visa launches Flexible Credential in UK with Zilch, Thredd

By Aarav Garg

Visa has launched its Flexible Credential capability in the UK through a partnership with buy now, pay later provider Zilch and payments processor Thredd, reflecting the growing shift towards more adaptable digital payment experiences.

The launch allows multiple payment options to sit behind a single card credential, enabling users to switch between different ways to pay without needing separate cards or accounts. The move comes as banks, card issuers and FinTech firms increasingly look to simplify the customer experience while responding to rising demand for flexible credit and instalment-based payments.

“Zilch’s promise is to provide everyone with a smarter way to spend. Visa’s Flexible Credential is a major capability in fulfilling that promise,” said Sean Hederman, Chief Technology Officer at Zilch. “Our work with Thredd and Visa creates better outcomes for users and merchants by intelligently routing backend processes that enhance the Zilch experience for customers, flexibly and seamlessly, and where every purchase is financed, optimised and rewarded in real time.”

Under the arrangement, Visa Flexible Credential (VFC) will initially be made available to Zilch customers in the UK. The capability is designed to work across Visa’s global network of merchant locations, while allowing issuers to embed multiple funding sources or payment methods behind one card interface.

“This is exactly the kind of innovation we aim to unlock for our clients,” said Jim McCarthy, CEO at Thredd. “By partnering with Zilch and Visa, we’re pushing the boundaries of what issuer processing can enable, bringing cutting-edge capabilities to market at speed and helping our clients scale into their next phase of growth.”

The collaboration also highlights the growing role of embedded payment infrastructure in modern card programmes. Thredd will provide the issuer processing and routing technology supporting the service behind the scenes, helping enable payment option selection and transaction management within a unified card experience.

“People increasingly want more flexibility and control over how they pay – particularly as their needs and circumstances change over time,” said Mathieu Altwegg, Head of Product and Solutions, Visa Europe. “Visa Flexible Credential gives issuers a simple way to offer that choice through one familiar card, while keeping the ease, security and global acceptance people already trust Visa for.”