Designing, building, launching and optimizing card programs for over two decades
Independent advice on card program strategy, economics, partners and launch.
Ever had one of these questions?
How can a $100 gift card sell for $98 and still turn a profit? • Will I need to fund card balances before anyone spends them? • Can my program sit on a commercial BIN and earn more interchange? • Can I control where my card is spent, down to a single store? • Should the approve-or-decline decision sit with me rather than my processor? • Can my card switch BINs on every purchase? • Should I use a card program manager, or contract directly with a processor and bank? • How can my customer add a virtual card to Apple Wallet if they won't download an app? • Does my business need to issue a card at all to achieve the desired goal?
Issuing Carte Blanche
The Card Issuance BIBLE
Out Oct 12th 2026
Daniel Citron's Issuing Carte Blanche is a Masterclass for Payments experts and novices alike. It is an extremely readable, engaging and thought-provoking encapsulation of the end-to-end Payments ecosystem, value chain and whitespace. I particularly enjoyed Chapter 8 - Breakage, as an often overlooked yet valuable enabler of issuance and disbursement models. Easily one of the most content-rich and deductive books I've read in a while.
Angus Ross
Senior Executive - Salesforce
former CGO and Global Head of Embedded Finance - Finastra
Daniel has produced a book that both newcomers to cards and those with significant experience can benefit from. It is clear and educational and it makes the world of cards accessible to all. Daniel's deep knowledge and experience are evident throughout. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about, or simply better understand, the card industry.
Adam Goller
EVP, Head of Fintech Banking - Cross River Bank
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Consulting Services Offered
Strategy and economics
- Modeling program economics
- Program structure: branding, BIN and funding model
- Vendor structure strategy
Partners and commercials
- Issuer processor and BIN Sponsor selection
- Card program manager selection
- Commercial negotiation and funding mechanics
Design and launch
- Optimized card program definition
- Authorization design and infrastructure
- Digital wallet strategy
- Launch planning, project management and operational setup
Run and grow
- Optimizing live programs
- Vendor migrations
- Geographical expansion
- Adding capabilities and business models