Financial institutions and fintechs offering payment card programs in Canada know the value of working with a card manufacturer that understands the local market. The use of payment cards in Canada is booming. According to a recent study from Payments Canada, contactless NFC-powered payments now account for 58% of all Canadian payment card transactions. In addition, the number of credit cards in circulation reached 112 million in 2024, representing a 5% year-over-year increase.
With this growth, the ability to source quality, durable, and cost-effective debit cards and credit cards is more important than ever. Working with a local card manufacturer that delivers competitive pricing, flexibility, and high touch customer service is critical to offering a successful and sustainable payment card program.
But choosing the right card manufacturing partner can be challenging. The best card manufacturers act as an extension of your team, embodying your brand and supporting your end customers as if they are their own. This starts with a meaningful understanding of the Canadian market and the cardholders within it.
How can you determine the right fit for a card manufacturing partner in Canada? Look for these four attributes.
1. A deep understanding of and expertise within the Canadian market
There’s a meaningful difference between a card manufacturer that ships to Canada and one that operates here with local employees. Working with a card manufacturer operating directly in Canada can mean faster delivery timelines, local expertise in Canadian payment networks, and a deep understanding of the nuances of bilingual card programs and regional compliance.
ABCorp has operated in Canada for decades. We manufacture and personalize cards for Canadian financial institutions, fintechs, transit agencies, and commercial enterprises from coast to coast, including a 20+ year partnership with Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) in Québec. Our local team has worked with countless clients to solve problems and optimize card programs that are uniquely tailored to the needs of Canadian consumers. This proven track record and deep knowledge matters when you’re building a sustainable card program backed by local expertise you can count on.
2. NFC and contactless-ready payment card manufacturing
As evidenced in the Payments Canada study, Canadian cardholders are seeking convenient tap-to-pay experiences. Your card manufacturer needs to be fully equipped for NFC card production, including EMV chip embedding, contactless antenna integration, and the testing and certification required for high functioning contactless cards in the field.
Look for a manufacturer with extensive experience in manufacturing contactless payment cards at scale. The right partner will help you navigate the technical requirements of Interac, Visa, and Mastercard network certification while keeping your production timelines intact.
3. End-to-end card production capabilities under one roof
Working with multiple vendors across card manufacturing, personalization, and fulfillment can introduce unnecessary risk. More handoffs and coordination between various steps in the process can increase the potential for delays, creating unneeded complexity in managing your supply chain. For financial institutions and fintechs managing large card programs, that complexity can add up quickly and become unmanageable.
ABCorp’s card solutions cover the full payment card program lifecycle. From bespoke card manufacturing and on-demand personalization to creative fulfillment capabilities, everything your card program needs can be managed under one roof. This means fewer vendors, tighter SLAs, and a single point of contact who knows your payment card program inside and out.
4. The ability to scale your payment card program quickly and thoughtfully
The last thing a growing fintech or financial institution needs is a card manufacturer that can’t keep up. Look for a partner who scales with you, not one who slows you down.
Whether you’re a fintech scaling quickly after launch or a financial institution introducing new card programs, your card manufacturer’s production capacity must match your growth goals. When evaluating partners, ask directly about lead times at different volume tiers and how they handle rapid scale-up requests. A consultative partner will help you plan for growth, not just fulfill today’s order.
ABCorp’s Canadian customers are seen, heard, and appreciated
Our dedicated team of experts in Canada know this market inside and out. Our focus is on building long term value, developing relationships across many levels, and showing up consistently for our client community. See firsthand what a difference this local, personalized approach can make for your Canadian payment card program.
Ready to build your card program with a partner that knows Canada? Let’s talk.
