Cards
Account updater
A scheme service that automatically updates stored card numbers and expiry dates when an issuer reissues a card.
Account updater services are offered by major card schemes such as Visa (VAU) and Mastercard (ABU) to ensure continuity for card-on-file transactions and recurring billing. When an issuer replaces a physical or virtual card due to expiry, loss, or theft, the scheme notifies participating acquirers or payment gateways of the new Primary Account Number (PAN) and expiry date. This mechanism allows merchants to maintain valid credentials within their vault without requiring the cardholder to manually update their payment details. For practitioners, this reduces involuntary churn and improves authorization success rates for subscription models. While highly effective, these tools are increasingly used alongside network tokenization, as tokens often handle lifecycle updates natively. Most acquirers charge a small flea or per-update fee for this service, which remains a standard requirement for businesses maintaining high volumes of stored credentials under Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) frameworks.
Frequently asked
How does account updater differ from network tokenization?
Account updater services typically provide the actual updated PAN and expiry date to be stored in a merchant's vault. In contrast, network tokenization replaces the PAN with a unique token that remains valid even when the underlying card details change, often removing the need for a separate update request.
Is participation in account updater programmes mandatory for merchants?
Participation is generally optional but highly recommended for merchants with recurring revenue models to prevent payment failures. However, specific scheme rules may require large digital goods merchants to support automated updates to maintain high authorization hygiene standards.
Related terms
A scheme-issued token that replaces the PAN end-to-end and is automatically updated when the underlying card is reissued.
A PCI-DSS-compliant store of tokenised card credentials that lets a merchant charge a card again without holding the PAN.
The process of retrying failed subscription payments and notifying customers to update their card before churning them.
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