Korttitarjoajat

Korttitarjoajat are financial institutions or companies that issue payment cards, including credit card, debit card, prepaid card, and loyalty card providers. In Finland, the term is frequently used in the context of banking, banking services, and commerce. Korttitarjoajat supply cards that can be used for electronic payments, cash withdrawals, and other financial transactions. The cards typically carry a brand name such as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, or Joukkuetera, and the card issuer is the entity that owns the card account, sets the credit limit or allows the use of funds from a bank account.

The origins of korttitarjoajat trace back to the 1960s when the first charge card was introduced by Bank of America. By the 1970s and 1980s, banks began issuing debit cards linked to ATM networks. Today's korttitarjoajat not only facilitate traditional retail payments but also provide integrated services such as contact‑less NFC payments, mobile card-finder apps, and card‑linked rewards programs.

Key functions of a korttitarjoaja include authorizing transactions, managing cardholder relationships, delivering security features such as chip technology and fraud monitoring, and offering customer support. In many countries, card issuers collaborate with card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) to enable global acceptance, while local banks handle settlement of transactions via national distribution systems like the Payments Administration (Pankki) in Finland.

Regulatory oversight of korttitarjoajat is carried out by financial supervisory authorities, which set requirements for risk management, data protection, and consumer protection. The sector continues to evolve, driven by digital innovation, regulatory changes, and shifting consumer preferences for mobile‑first payment solutions.