# Educate, Empower, Enrich: How Modern Card Program Technology Can Ignite Your Trading Platform

Digital technology is democratising many areas of financial services, providing access via slick frontend user experiences to products previously out of reach to the masses.

App-based fractional trading is a great example of this. It means people with small amounts of disposable income are now able to participate in the exciting world of stocks and shares.

But with a proliferation of trading platforms and apps in recent years, competition is hotting up. So it’s vital that innovators redouble their efforts to engage existing and prospective customers.

One way to do this is to make it easier for customers to access their investments and embed trading into everyday life. Which is precisely what modern payment card programmes enable.

In addition to seamless deposits and withdrawals, payment cards give trading innovators the ability to extend their services into new areas to create compelling propositions. And thanks to enriched data insights, cards allow a better understanding of what makes investors tick.

This is what we discuss in this simple e-guide. Over the following pages we outline a series of superpowers that a digital card programme can bestow on trading platform innovators.

## Deepen Customer Engagement with Value-Added Financial Products and Services

Payment cards give trading innovators the ability to extend their services into new areas to create compelling propositions.

## Pillars of Strength

What a card programme can enable your trading platform to deliver:

- **Make investment earnings and opportunities accessible in real time.**  
Whether it’s drawing down earnings or investing while on the go, a card programme gives trading platform customers the power to act in real time. This instant access functionality applies to any savings products you offer too. A Mastercard or Visa payment card linked to your app also puts your brand in front of customers every day.

- **Deliver compelling trading rewards to drive engagement and spending.**  
Who doesn’t love rewards? Unfortunately, traditional card perks such as air miles and loyalty points have been devalued in recent years. This is where offering a trade as a reward can really shine.

- **Open up a range of spending options.**  
While your trading platform card might be based around its investment credentials, it’s vital that it gives users the option to spend in savings or earnings held across different accounts.

- **Enhance your platform’s value proposition with a suite of banking functions.**  
Your trading proposition should come with digital banking features such as direct deposits and free ATM access. Additionally, real-time notifications, personal financial management tools, spend controls, and compatibility with Google Pay and Apple Pay will enhance your app.

- **Deliver real-time insights to create engaging experiences and boost customer loyalty.**  
Providing users with in-app notifications containing information such as spend data, rewards, earnings, and balance updates will help keep them engaged with the card in real time and satisfied with your proposition for the long term.

## Card Issuing and Processing Features

- **Card issuing:** Instant issuance of physical, virtual, and tokenized cards with direct provisioning to digital wallets.
- **Card processing:** Real-time funding using our Just-in-Time (JIT) Funding™ feature with dynamic spend controls to reduce fraud.

Marqeta’s modern card issuing platform empowers its customers to create customized and innovative payment cards. Marqeta’s platform, powered by open APIs, gives its customers the ability to build more configurable and flexible payment experiences, accelerating product development and democratizing access to card issuing technology.

Marqeta built its simple, trusted, and scalable platform to help companies design seamless payment experiences, streamline purchase flows, and bring products to market faster while minimizing fraud risk.

## Card Applications

A suite of applications and tools that help you build, manage, and run your card program.

**About Marqeta**  
Discover more insights at [Marqeta](https://www.marqeta.com) and explore various resources like case studies and eBooks.