The reality of payment network compliance today
Payment network compliance (often called scheme compliance in Europe) sits at the heart of every card issuer’s operations. Yet for most banks, it remains a manual, time-intensive process that diverts resources from higher-value priorities.
The numbers tell the story: Visa and Mastercard require licence holders to track and implement every applicable change across their networks. For a typical issuing bank, that means digesting 150+ publications every month. Miss one? The penalties for non-compliance with card network mandates can be severe.
But what if compliance could be more than a defensive exercise? What if it became a foundation for resilience and growth?
The challenges every issuing bank recognises
Across our client base the same pain points surface repeatedly:
- Manual tracking overload: Teams download bulletins from multiple portals, maintain sprawling spreadsheets, and struggle to keep pace with the volume.
- Scattered information: Critical updates live in different silos. Operations teams work from one version, risk teams from another. The “single source of truth” doesn’t exist.
- No audit trail: When regulators ask how a past bulletin was handled, teams scramble through emails and memories.
- Broken collaboration: Fraud needs new chargeback rules, operations needs processing changes, legal needs liability reviews, but communication happens through endless meetings and email threads.
How Kajo changes the equation
Kajo transforms payment network compliance from reactive and fragmented to proactive and systematic:
- Unified platform: Every bulletin, update, and deadline consolidated into a single dashboard.
- Automated task routing: Bulletins are parsed and assigned to the right teams, operations, fraud, legal, without manual sorting.
- Complete audit trails: Every action logged, every decision timestamped, every responsible party documented.
- Collaboration built-in: Teams comment, share notes, and update statuses in-platform, reducing dependency on meetings.
Success stories from card issuers
Worldline: From reactive to proactive
Worldline once relied on Excel and manual downloads to process 150+ monthly bulletins. After adopting Kajo, they gained a centralised view, automated task assignments, and proactive risk management.
Outcome: Major risk reduction, cost savings, and a shift from firefighting to planning.
Cornèrcard: Driving adoption with usability
Cornèrcard sought audit-friendly compliance but faced team resistance to new tools. Kajo’s intuitive interface won adoption quickly, creating lasting engagement.
Outcome: A streamlined workflow with strong audit readiness.
PostFinance: Traceability and workload relief
PostFinance managed a heavy volume of scheme announcements without proper audit trails. Kajo reduced manual effort and delivered full traceability.
Outcome: Stronger communication, improved tracking, and reduced risk of missed deadlines.
Bank Frick: Breaking down silos
With separate methods across operations, risk, and finance, Bank Frick lacked alignment. Kajo integrated distribution, notes, and updates into one workflow.
Outcome: Faster coordination and fewer ad-hoc meetings.
What these transformations reveal
Across banks and issuers, common themes emerge:
- Efficiency gains are universal: teams spend less time on admin, more on analysis.
- Risk mitigation improves: automated alerts and oversight reduce missed deadlines.
- Audit readiness becomes standard: preparation shifts from weeks to hours.
- Collaboration strengthens: cross-functional teams stay aligned with fewer meetings.
- Scalability is achievable: institutions can manage growing update volumes without ballooning headcount.
Key insight: Compliance excellence isn’t about working harder, it’s about working systematically.
The strategic view for leadership
For leadership teams, Payment Network Compliance isn’t just a regulatory obligation,it’s a lever for resilience and competitive advantage:
- Faster market entry: Efficient compliance accelerates product launches.
- Regulator confidence: Proactive compliance signals maturity.
- Better resource allocation: Teams shift from admin tasks to strategic initiatives.
- Enhanced audit outcomes: Clear documentation reduces regulatory scrutiny.
The conversation shifts from “How do we stay compliant?” to “How does compliance strengthen our strategy?”
Moving beyond basic compliance
Staying compliant is mandatory. Leveraging compliance as a strategic asset is optional, but decisive.
The issuers highlighted here didn’t just survive the burden of Card Network Mandates. They turned compliance into a capability that supports speed, efficiency, and confidence in growth.
That opportunity is available to any issuing bank ready to move beyond spreadsheets, portals, and email chains.
The path is proven. The question is simple:
Will your compliance operations remain a burden, or evolve into a competitive strength?