When Visa introduced the Visa Issuer Monitoring Program (VIMP), it sent a clear message: issuers are expected to take a proactive role in reducing fraud and managing disputes. But like many things in the payments world, the details are easy to miss… and the operational impact can add up quickly.
But what exactly is the Visa Issuer Monitoring Program, why does it matter, and what can issuers do to stay out of trouble?
What is the Visa Issuer Monitoring Program (VIMP)?
VIMP is Visa’s programme for monitoring fraud and dispute activity among card issuers. It’s designed to flag financial institutions with unusually high dispute or fraud rates for card-absent transactions, and prompt action before things get worse.
VIMP monitors issuers based on two key metrics: the dispute-to-transaction ratio, which tracks the number of disputes relative to total Visa transactions and the fraud-to-sales ratio, which measures fraud volume as a percentage of total sales, expressed in basis points. In addition to the ratios, Visa considers two qualifiers for each metric: for disputes, the dispute count and the dispute-to-sales count ratio; for fraud, the fraud dollar amount and the fraud-to-sales dollar amount.
Visa sees this as one unified programme, with two monitored metrics. Each metric has a monthly threshold that differs by region and may change over time. Visa publishes these periodically in its Operating Regulations.
There are also regional differences in how the programme is applied. For example, in the US region, Visa monitors only domestic 3DSecure transactions and only the fraud activity, not disputes.
If an issuer exceeds either set threshold in a given month, they may be flagged, and enrolled in VIMP. Once in the programme, the issuer must submit a remediation plan to Visa and demonstrate measurable progress. That plan isn’t optional. Issuers who repeatedly breach the thresholds or fail to act can face escalating consequences, including fees or penalties.
Exiting VIMP requires the issuer to bring their ratios consistently below the thresholds for a defined period, showing that their operations have improved.
It’s Visa’s way of reinforcing accountability and keeping the system running smoothly.
Why it matters for issuers
Falling into VIMP isn’t just a regulatory issue. It affects the day-to-day running of internal teams, relationships with cardholders, and even a bank’s ability to scale. Being flagged can trigger heavier oversight from internal risk and compliance teams. It can lead to pressure from Visa to update internal policies or adjust fraud and dispute operations. And it doesn’t take much for a reputation hit to follow… especially if cardholders experience delays, confusion, or friction when trying to resolve issues.
There’s also the financial cost to consider. If an issuer remains above the thresholds after the remediation period, Visa may impose monthly non-compliance assessments… adding monetary liability on top of the operational burden.
The bottom line? Once in the programme, getting out takes time and effort. Staying below the radar is always the better strategy.
Where automation makes a difference
Most issuers aren’t ignoring the problem. Even when teams are doing their best, manual processes and outdated systems can make it hard to spot what’s really driving dispute or fraud rates… and even harder to fix it.
That’s where solutions like Amiko help.
One key way is by resolving disputes earlier in the process. It connects directly with tools like Ethoca and Verifi to resolve claims before they escalate into chargebacks. That means fewer formal cases, and lower risk of crossing Visa’s dispute thresholds.
Another benefit lies in fraud reporting. Amiko automates much of the process, linking dispute data with fraud analytics teams. That way, they can see which types of disputes are causing issues and update fraud rules quickly, before issuers hit a volume that triggers monitoring.
Automation gives visibility, control, and speed.
VIMP reflects a broader trend in the payments ecosystem: increasing scrutiny and shared responsibility. And the pressure on issuers is clear: they are now expected to anticipate potential risks before they become costly.
Whether it’s disputes or fraud, having smart, automated systems in place makes a real difference. Amiko helps reduce the pressure on teams and maintain a smoother, more resilient dispute operation.
If you want to see how this could work with your team’s current setup, get in touch with our team.