At Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, Visa unveiled groundbreaking partnerships with Klarna and Zilch, aiming to redefine flexible payments through debit card innovation. Klarna announced the pilot of a new FDIC-insured debit card in the U.S., integrated into its buy now, pay later (BNPL) ecosystem. The card allows users to shop both online and in-store, offering payment options like Pay in 4 and Pay Later, appealing to users cautious of traditional credit cards. Klarna’s CMO David Sandstrom described it as “a product proposition that resonates well with people who fear revolving credit,” adding that over five million people are already on the U.S. waitlist.
Visa’s SVP of Product and Solutions, Mathieu Altwegg, emphasized the platform’s flexibility, supporting everything from multi-currency payments to loyalty points, tailored to users’ financial needs and life stages.
Meanwhile, Zilch CEO Philip Belamant announced the launch of the firm’s first physical card, powered by Visa. With over 5 million customers and growing by 100,000 monthly, Zilch’s flexible card redefines how credentials work—allowing users to toggle between debit, credit, or deferred payments before or after a transaction. Integrated with Zilch’s ad engine, the card also returns value to users from advertising revenue generated per swipe.
Visa’s SVP of Commercial Solutions, Lucy Demery, highlighted Zilch as the fastest-growing unicorn in EMEA and noted the industry’s shift towards profitability and collaboration. She shared Visa’s move toward a more open ecosystem through its Visa-as-a-Service strategy—giving fintechs access to Visa’s global network, data, analytics, and software.
These partnerships mark a pivotal shift in digital payments, blending fintech agility with Visa’s global infrastructure to serve a generation seeking control, flexibility, and seamless experiences.