Visa has officially launched its new account-to-account (A2A) payment solution in the UK, aiming to revolutionize the way Brits manage everyday payments by offering more control, choice, and card-level protection for bank transfers.
Branded as Visa A2A, the service enables consumers to pay bills and subscriptions directly from their bank accounts using their existing bank apps, while enjoying protections traditionally reserved for card transactions. The offering leverages real-time settlement through Pay.UK’s Faster Payment System, streamlining the payment process for both consumers and businesses.
For businesses, Visa A2A means faster settlement, improved visibility over cash flow, and enhanced reconciliation capabilities due to richer transaction data. Additionally, businesses can receive real-time updates when customers cancel or change payment permissions, improving operational efficiency.
Initially focused on recurring payments like bills and subscriptions, Visa plans to expand A2A to ecommerce payments in the UK through a phased rollout. The service is underpinned by an open model that invites banks and other ecosystem players to join, thereby widening the reach of open banking-enabled payments.
Visa UK & Ireland Managing Director Mandy Lamb described the launch as a “game-changer,” emphasizing that for the first time, pay-by-bank users will gain a protection experience comparable to card payments.
Nationwide’s Deputy Director of Payments, Isabel Pitt, welcomed the development, noting that A2A payments are growing rapidly across the UK. She stressed the importance of robust frameworks, including rules and protections, to ensure the payments method reaches its full potential—something Nationwide is supporting by collaborating with Visa and other partners.