Launching a card programme in a start-up

My start-up team and I have been discussing whether we should issue our own payment cards — virtual or physical. But we are concerned about the costs and complications involved in obtaining licences.

This is a very relevant question. I recently read an article on https://sdk.finance/blog/bin-sponsorship-a-key-to-unlocking-card-issuance-in-fintech/ that explains the BIN sponsorship model — when a fintech company enters the card market but does not obtain a full licence on its own, instead cooperating with a sponsor bank that has the appropriate rights. It describes how fintech companies can enter the market faster, with lower costs and less regulatory burden.