# Visa Account Updater

## Helps sellers reduce the risk of declined transactions from account changes

## available for use by

- Issuer Banks
- Acquirer Banks
- Issuer Banks for Small Business

## Regional Availability

- N. America
- Asia-Pacific
- Europe
- CEMEA
- LAC

## fees & terms

Free to use in Sandbox. Contact for Production fees. Product terms located at end of the page.

## Secure Exchange of Account Updates

Visa Account Updater (VAU) enables a secure electronic exchange of account information updates between participating Visa card issuers and acquirers for credential-on-file merchants, which enables a more seamless payment process.

When participating issuers re-issue cards, they submit the new account number and expiration date to VAU. Issuers also provide whether an account is closed or a card holder has opted out. Participating merchants through their acquirers send inquiries on their credentials-on-file to VAU and are provided with updated card information, if available. This helps participating issuers retain cardholders by maintaining continuity of their payment relationships with participating merchants.

### Key Features

### Provide up-to-date information on merchants that request your cardholder's updated card information.

### Enable you to deliver a better customer experience.

### Supports multiple channels Batch, API, ISO 0302 for Issuers and Batch, API, Real Time VAU and Push Subscribe Service for Acquirers

### Why Use It?

Out-of-date COF details significantly impact customers and merchants when transactions are declined.  VAU enables credential-on-file merchants to securely access updated account information, facilitating a more seamless payment process and helps merchants reduce the risk of declined transactions.

It impacts **Customer Experience**:

- Frustration with payment experience
- Takes too much time to update
- Fees for late/declined payments
- Service delays and/or cancellation

It benefits **Issuers**:

- Maintain top of wallet
- Simplifies portfolio management and changes
- Seamless cardholder experience
- Updates shared with Visa Token Vault

It impacts **Merchants**:

- Loss of customers
- Damage to brand reputation
- Decreased revenues
- Increased operational costs

It benefits **Acquirers**:

- Strengthens relationship with merchants
- Service offering differentiator (value-added service)

- Increases Authorization Approval Rates
- Supports New Revenue Streams
- Multiple Integration Options - Batch, API, Push Subscribe Service, Real Time VAU

##### How Does It Work?

Issuers submit electronic updates to VAU when a cardholder’s account information changes. Through their acquirers,

enrolled merchants submit inquiries to VAU regarding accounts with which they have ongoing relationships. VAU

responds and provides account number or expiration date updates, closed account advices, and contact cardholder

advices. All VAU data is transmitted through a secure, direct connection between the endpoint and Visa.

##### APIs Included

### Visa Account Updater Issuer Stop Advice API

Quickly block automatic updates to merchants after fraud—without disrupting cardholder transactions. This secure, scalable API replaces manual processes, giving issuers a faster, automated way to manage Stop Advices alongside existing VAU tools.

### Visa Account Updater Acquirer API

Give your enrolled COF merchants on-demand access to updated account credentials. This optional API complements VAU batch and Real-Time VAU, supporting single PAN inquiries or up to 100 PANs per call.

### Visa Account Updater Merchant Enrollment API

Automate merchant onboarding—fast, at scale.

Integrate directly into acquirer/processor web apps to eliminate manual submission of merchant details.

### Visa Account Updater Merchant Search API

Instant merchant status checks—no manual steps.

Quickly view enrollment status for merchants, including those still marked In‑Progress. The VAU Merchant Search API integrates directly into acquirer and processor systems to provide real‑time updates for any merchant in the VAU portfolio.

### Push Subscribe Service

Automatic card updates for smoother recurring payments.

Stay current with card-on-file credentials—no manual checks needed. Sellers, through their acquirers, can subscribe to PANs and automatically receive updates whenever issuers change card details. Replacement PANs are added seamlessly, reducing declines and keeping payments flowing.

###### Ready to start with Visa Account Updater?

###### Need Support?