FIS & Visa Team Up to Boost Digital Innovation for Community Banks
On June 26, 2025, Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and Visa announced an expanded strategic partnership designed to empower community and regional banks with advanced digital banking tools. This collaboration promises a suite of features aimed at giving smaller institutions the edge they need to compete with their larger counterparts.
From enhanced fraud prevention to marketing capabilities and digital wallet integration, the two fintech giants are reshaping how smaller banks interact with their customers and compete in a digital-first landscape.
đ Why This Partnership Matters
For years, innovation in digital banking has been concentrated among the big playersâbanks with the resources to develop proprietary tools and in-house platforms. But community banks serve nearly half of Americans and are often the pillars of local economies.
FIS and Visaâs latest collaboration levels the playing field by giving these smaller institutions access to technology that enhances customer experience, reduces fraud losses, and opens up new marketing and monetization opportunitiesâall integrated into FISâs core banking platforms.
đ Key Enhancements in the Partnership
1. Stop Payment Services
This functionality allows cardholders or call center agents to block recurring payments to specific merchants. Whether itâs canceling a gym membership or ending a subscription, customers gain greater control, while banks reduce back-office strain.
2. Wallet Link
With Wallet Link, institutions can now push their branded digital cards directly into Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other walletsâno need for an additional app or manual entry. This seamless onboarding process boosts card activation rates and makes it easier for customers to transact digitally.
3. E-commerce Fraud Mitigation
Using Visaâs advanced AI risk engine, this solution pre-screens online transactions to reduce false declines and detect fraudulent activity. For banks, it means fewer chargebacks and improved approval rates. For customers, it’s a smoother and more secure checkout experience.
4. Digital Campaign Manager
Marketing just got smarter. With this tool, banks can create immersive campaigns using digital experiences like AR, personalized offers, and behavioral targetingâwithout needing an internal marketing agency. Itâs a major boost for customer engagement and product upselling.
đĄ What This Means for Regional Banks
Historically, technology gaps limited the ability of smaller financial institutions to modernize at pace. Thatâs changing:
- These banks can now offer digital services once exclusive to national giants
- Theyâll be able to market smarter, respond faster to fraud, and onboard customers more efficiently
- Customers will enjoy a smoother, more secure, and personalized banking experience
In essence, the partnership helps bridge the digital divide across the financial services ecosystem.
đ Strategic Impact for FIS and Visa
This isnât just a win for smaller institutionsâit also reinforces both companiesâ positions as leaders in fintech innovation:
- FIS expands its reputation as the go-to core infrastructure provider for banks across sizes
- Visa deepens its value-added services and strengthens its relationships within the issuer ecosystem
- Both companies benefit from rising demand for digital transformation in banking
đ Whatâs Next? Global Scale and Future Features
Though the partnership currently targets U.S.-based institutions, both companies have hinted at global ambitions:
- Emerging markets: Wallet Link could be invaluable in mobile-first economies
- Europe & Asia-Pacific: Campaign tools and fraud mitigation tech could serve digital-first challenger banks and super apps
- Next-gen tools: Expect AI-powered budgeting, real-time credit offers, and embedded financial wellness services down the road
This partnership sets a template for fintech collaboration worldwide.
đ Final Thoughts
In an industry where innovation often favors the few, the partnership between FIS and Visa is a refreshing step toward digital equity. By providing next-gen services to smaller banks, theyâre enabling local institutions to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscapeâand that benefits everyone from Main Street to Wall Street.