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Visa has officially introduced its Account-to-Account (A2A) payment solution in the United Kingdom, aiming to transform the way British consumers and businesses manage payments by leveraging real-time bank transfers.
The Visa A2A platform empowers consumers with enhanced control, convenience, and protection when paying directly from their bank accounts. Designed to mirror the security and confidence traditionally associated with card transactions, the service enables users to manage recurring payments—such as bills and subscriptions—directly through their banking apps.
For businesses, Visa A2A integrates with Pay.UK’s Faster Payment System to deliver real-time settlements, improving payment visibility and enabling more efficient cash flow management. The digital-first service also allows merchants to receive instant notifications when a customer updates or cancels a payment mandate, and supports enriched transaction data for easier reconciliation.
“Visa A2A is a game-changer,” said Mandy Lamb, Managing Director of Visa UK and Ireland.
“For the first time, UK consumers and businesses using bank transfers will enjoy the same level of protection and convenience they’ve come to expect from card payments.”
Currently focused on recurring payments, Visa plans to gradually extend the service to support ecommerce transactions in the UK through a phased rollout.
Built on an open ecosystem model, Visa A2A invites collaboration with banks and payment partners to accelerate the adoption of open banking-enabled payments. This inclusive approach aims to unlock broader industry participation and innovation.
“A2A payments are rapidly gaining traction among UK consumers and businesses as a seamless and efficient way to transact,” said Isabel Pitt, Deputy Director of Payments at Nationwide.
“But to unlock their full potential, the ecosystem needs a robust framework of rules, capabilities, and protections. That’s why we’re pleased to work with Visa and our partners to bring this forward-thinking solution to market.”
Visa A2A marks a significant milestone in the UK’s evolving digital payments landscape, aligning with the broader momentum around open banking and real-time payment infrastructures.
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