The card controls feature allows you to define how and when a card can be used by setting specific restrictions. These controls provide greater flexibility and security, ensuring that cards are used only for their intended purposes.
These settings can be assigned when issuing a new card or modified at any time as requirements change.
How to Set Up Card Controls
Navigate to the "Cards" page in the admin app and select a card.
Click on "Edit card controls".
Enable the card control feature and select the type of restriction you want to apply.
Configure the settings based on your requirements.
Save your changes.
Types of Card Controls
Categories and Merchant Category Codes (MCCs)
Restrict transactions based on categories or merchant category codes (MCCs). You can choose to allow or block specific categories, such as:
Travel & Accommodation
Food & Beverage
Advertising & Marketing
This ensures that a card is only used for its intended purpose, such as business travel or marketing expenses.
Merchants
Limit card usage to specific merchants by defining an allowed or blocked list. You can add merchants using:
Merchant ID (Visa DE42)
Keyword-based merchant name matching
For example, a virtual subscription card can be restricted to a single software provider(merchant), preventing unauthorized purchases.
Dates
Set specific date-based rules for card usage:
Yearly – Transactions allowed only within a specified date range each year.
Monthly – Transactions allowed on specific days of the month.
Weekly – Transactions permitted on selected weekdays.
Fixed Date Range – Define a start and end date.
These controls can be useful for managing subscription payments or ensuring that company cards are used only on designated dates.
Times
Restrict card usage to specific times of the day. Users can set a time range, such as:
Business Hours – Allow transactions only between specific hours (e.g., 9 AM to 6 PM).
Weekend Blocking – Prevent transactions on weekends.
These controls help regulate spending and ensure compliance with operational hours.
Postal Codes
Restrict transactions to specific postal codes. These can be added simply by inserting the respective postal codes as text (if multiple, separate by comma) after enabling this control. Transactions will be blocked if:
The postal code is not on the allowed list.
The postal code is explicitly blocked.
If the transaction does not have an associated postal code, the transaction will be allowed.
This is particularly useful for benefit cards, which must comply with tax regulations by being used only in designated areas.
Card Acceptance Methods
Restrict transactions based on how and where a card is used. This control lets you specify whether the card can be used for online, contactless, chip or other types of transactions.
Transactions will be blocked if:
The acceptance method is not on the allowed list.
The acceptance method is explicitly blocked.
This is particularly useful for cards with specific usage rules — for example, benefit or corporate expense cards that should only be used in person and not for online purchases.
When the payment method cannot be determined, we categorize the method as "Method not available". You can disable such transactions for extra security.
If you have any further questions or need assistance, please contact our support.