One Card. More Payment Options. Flexible Credentials Explained

The problem worth solving

The average U.S. adult carries between 5 and 8 cards, yet 74% of cardholders are indifferent or outright dissatisfied with their card experience. This isn't a retention problem. It's a product problem. And for younger generations, the stakes are even higher: 72% of Gen Z say payment flexibility directly influences their purchase decisions. If your card can't flex with them, they'll find an app that does, and you'll lose top-of-wallet without even realizing it.

What's covered in this session

How Flexible Credentials work: A technical and strategic walkthrough of real-time funding source switching across debit, credit, BNPL, and prepaid, all on a single card. Diana breaks down the three layers that make it possible: the network, Marqeta as processor, and you as program manager configuring which funding sources are available and what triggers a flex. The entire decision happens in milliseconds.

Driving top-of-wallet without more cards: How issuers are using Flexible Credentials to deepen engagement, cross-sell products, and reduce churn, without issuing additional cards. Issuers using the technology are seeing an increased volume for discretionary and non-discretionary spend, growth across both categories simultaneously.

What's already live in production: Not just a roadmap item. Marqeta is first to market with Flexible Credentials at scale, live on Visa.

What to build (and when to start): A practical look at implementation paths, decision points, and timelines. The most in-demand starting point right now is debit to BNPL, and for good reason. It has the most straightforward funding logic, minimal risk infrastructure requirements, and a faster path to launch than you might expect. For existing Marqeta customers, this is an incremental integration on infrastructure you already have.

From the session: what our speakers wanted you to take home

"Don't be scared. The implementation is surprisingly light. You're not rebuilding dual-card products or reinventing the wheel. You're adding a decision layer. It's configuration, a bit of JIT logic, and some UI work, but it's not a deep platform integration."

- Diana Ranchal, Solutions Engineer Director

"Consumers are already switching and routing their purchases today, just between your card and someone else's. With Flexible Credentials, all of that stays with you."

- Julia McCaffrey, Key Account Manager

Ready to see what's possible for your program?

Flexible Credentials are live and available today. The window to be a first mover is open, and the path to launch is shorter than you think. Talk to our team about what your program could look like.