Cover for the September 2026 edition of the Issuer Investment Playbook. Card issuer investments aim to improve the payment experience by accelerating platform upgrades and prioritizing AI implementation.

Visa DPS Data Shows Card Issuers Racing to Upgrade Systems

The Issuer Investment Playbook: Investing Forward, Building the Edge

PYMNTS Intelligence surveyed 500 executives at U.S. card issuers to see where they’re investing next. The findings reveal a much faster platform upgrade race, with fraud defense and AI setting the pace.

Inside the September Playbook

  • Faster upgrades: Issuers now expect their next platform upgrade in 2.4 years, down from 7.8 years. Seven in 10 plan to upgrade within three years.
  • AI for fraud: Half rank fraud detection and scoring as their top AI priority, while 89% plan to add or expand AI fraud tools.
  • Affluent-focused investments: Issuers serving affluent customers have 7.3 capabilities underway and 7.8 more planned, leading mainstream issuers in personalized rewards and portfolio analytics.

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