Thales Joins Visa’s Asia Payment Push
Banks across Asia Pacific are accelerating digital payments, driving demand for faster deployment, stronger security and simpler integration.
Visa and French technology group Thales have entered a strategic partnership to accelerate the deployment of next-generation digital payment solutions across Asia Pacific.
As the first technology partner to join Visa’s Digitalization Ready Program (VDRP) in the region, Thales will support banks in integrating Visa’s latest payment capabilities more quickly, reducing implementation complexity while enhancing security and customer experience.
The collaboration comes as financial institutions across Asia continue investing heavily in digital transformation amid rising consumer expectations for seamless payment experiences and growing cyber threats.
Focus on Click to Pay
The initial phase of the partnership will center on the rollout of Visa’s Click to Pay solution and Payment Passkeys, using Thales’ D1 card issuance platform.
The platform enables issuers to activate Visa’s digital payment services more efficiently while maintaining high standards for security, scalability and performance. According to the companies, the streamlined integration should shorten deployment times and enable financial institutions to offer faster and more frictionless checkout experiences.
Faster Time to Market
The two companies said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping issuers modernize payment infrastructure as digital commerce continues to expand across Asia Pacific.
«As digital payments continue to evolve, issuers need a trusted technology partner that can combine innovation, security and speed to market,» said Nassir Ghrous, Vice President of Banking & Payment Services for Asia, the Middle East and Africa at Thales.
He added that the collaboration will enable payment providers across the region to deliver next-generation payment experiences that combine strong security with the seamless convenience consumers increasingly expect.
Thales is recognized globally for its expertise in digital card issuance and tokenization. The company employs more than 85,000 people worldwide and generated €22.1 billion in revenue in 2025. It has maintained a presence in Singapore since 1973, where it operates several regional technology and innovation centers.
