Agentic Ready programme by Visa launched to prepare for AI-driven payments
The project allows European banks to test agentic payments in controlled, real-world environments with tokenisation and biometric safeguards.
Visa has launched Agentic Ready, a global programme preparing the payments ecosystem for AI agents to initiate transactions for consumers. The programme builds on Visa Intelligent Commerce, the company’s framework for secure, AI-driven payment experiences.
The first phase, launching in Europe, including the UK, focuses on issuer readiness. Participating banks and financial institutions can test and validate agent-initiated transactions in controlled production environments, ensuring they remain secure, reliable, and scalable.
Visa’s trust layer integrates tokenisation, identity verification, risk controls, and biometric authentication to maintain consumer consent and protection throughout transactions.
Controlled testing with selected merchants allows issuers to gain practical experience of agentic commerce in real-world settings. Early participants, including Barclays, HSBC UK, Revolut, and Banco Santander, help Visa test and refine safe AI-driven payments across channels.
The programme advances Visa’s vision of AI-driven commerce, enabling flexible payments while keeping consumers in control. Expansion beyond Europe is planned, leveraging lessons from the initial rollout to accelerate agentic commerce globally.
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