Push-to-Card payments are widely used to instantly move money to a card from various payment method types (such as a bank account). Even though this payment type is already popular both within Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) transactions, the term “Push-to-Card” may be new to some. In this article, we discuss what is Push-to-Card, its usages and advantages.
Push-To-Card Definition
Push-to-Card refers to a payment initiated by the payer. It is a payment solution that allows a payer to actively disburse or “push” money to a cardholder.
Push-to-Card is the opposite of pull payments, a payment type in which funds are pulled from one account to the other. Pull payments are initiated by the payee, who is authorized to collect or “pull” money from other payment instruments to their own account. In this case, the payers don’t initiate the movement of funds themselves, and the funds are taken automatically.
A good example of pull payments is Direct Debit, where customers authorize a merchant to pull funds from the nominated account on a pre-determined schedule.
When it comes to Push-to-Card, payers actively push their money to a card. This payment type is most commonly used for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments, but it can also be used for disbursem*nts. Money is transferred through card networks such as Visa and Mastercard, using only their credit or debit card numbers.
Push-to-card transactions are essentially sent through the card networks in reverse, from the sender (in case of disbursem*nts to the merchant) through their acquiring bank or payment service provider to the customer’s issuing bank in real time. As a result, customers have instant access to the funds in their accounts. Both Visa and Mastercard offer push-to-card services (Mastercard Send and Visa Direct programs).
Advantages Of Push-To-Card Payments
Push-to-Card payments are extremely simple and practical. Firstly, payers only need the payee’s card details to initiate the payment. Secondly, the payment is settled in real time, faster than a traditional bank-to-bank transfer. This includes instant bank rails such as Faster Payments (UK) and SEPA Instant (Europe), which can take up to a few hours.
This real-time settlement makes it highly convenient not only to pay peers but also to receive disbursem*nts from companies. Insurers, in particular, can really benefit from Push-to-Card payments because it is a much faster and easier way to pay out claimsto their customers.
Bank-to-bank transfers, although still a popular way to pay out to customers, may take a few working days to be processed. Push-to-Card enables customers to receive their payments instantly and have the funds immediately available in their wallets. Depending on the situation that your customers are in, the immediacy of funds may make all the difference and turn a stressed customer into a satisfied one.
A key example of this kind of situation is with parametric insurance use cases such as flight delay cover. If a policyholder is stuck at an airport for a few hours or even needs to stay the night at a hotel, being sent a cheque or a bank transfer that may take a few days is no good to them if they don’t have funds immediately available.
Players In The Push-To-Card Industry
As explained in detail byVenable LLP, card networks are at the top, and they establish the rules and technology for facilitating push payments. Beneath them are the acquiring financial institutions (i.e., banks) that are approved by the card networks to originate push transactions and onboard merchants or other service providers to use the push service.
With respect to the actual payments, a push transaction involves a sender (a consumer, business, etc.) who funds the transaction and the recipient of the payment who is a cardholder. Of course, given the variety of potential use cases, there are many different ways in which a push program can be structured, ranging from simple to extraordinarily complex, depending on the number of service providers and partners involved.
Use Cases For Push-To-Card Payments
Most of the use cases for push-to-card are focused on the concept of ‘speed to pay,’ which involves finding ways to move and settle funds in real or near-real time. The reimbursem*nt of claims is the insurer’s moment of truth, especially for those policyholders who require immediate compensation. After all, if the policyholder is affected immediately, why should they be compensated days later? Push-to-card is an effective option for ensuring payment happens when policyholders need it.
Push-to-card services offered by the card brands are helping speed up settlement in a number of interesting ways, including:
P2P Money Transfer
Direct transfers between cardholders, including both domestic and cross-border remittances.
Merchant Settlement
Push transactions are being used by a number of payment facilitators and merchant acquirers to improve settlement speeds by sending sales proceeds directly to a merchant’s card account.
Gig Worker Payouts
One of the most promising use cases is using push transactions to quickly pay funds owed to gig workers or to a business’s affiliates or contractors.
Funds Disbursem*nt
Push services can be used by businesses and government authorities to send funds to individuals for insurance claims, expense reimbursem*nts, benefits payments, and other non-sales payments.
Bill Payment
Similar to funds disbursem*nt, push transactions can be used by businesses to pay suppliers for contractual amounts owed (as distinct from individual sales transactions).
How Duck Creek Payments Can Help
Duck Creek Payments is a cloud-based middleware connecting large enterprises to the payments ecosystem, regardless of their existing IT infrastructure. Through a single connection to Duck Creek Payments, enterprises can collect or pay out using a variety of payment technologies and providers around the globe.
Duck Creek Payments can support any payment type, including push-to-card.
In a world where consumers’ payment preferences and technologies are ever-evolving, Duck Creek Payments works with insurers to future-proof their payment requirements. Regardless of the business area, market, or requirements, Duck Creek Payments will connect you to your choice of technology and provider.
Reach out to our team below should you want to discuss how Duck Creek Payments can help you. Our team is happy to show you whatour platformcan do for your business and offer you a free demo.
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