# Source: https://docs.stripe.com/issuing.md

# Issuing

Use the Stripe Issuing API to create, manage, and distribute payment cards for your business.

Issuing is available in the United States, United Kingdom, and European Economic Area. Learn more about [availability by country](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/global.md).

[Stripe Issuing](https://dashboard.stripe.com/issuing/overview) allows you to create a commercial card program for your users without setup fees. You can create your own card designs, and approve transactions in real time. You can build Stripe Issuing alongside [Financial Accounts for platforms](https://docs.stripe.com/financial-accounts/connect.md) to attach cards to open loop wallets, and offer your users additional money movement options. To learn more about Issuing, see [How Issuing Works](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/how-issuing-works.md).

If you haven’t already, [create a Stripe account](https://dashboard.stripe.com/register/issuing) before you get started with Issuing.

## Get started

[Choose card offering](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/choose-cards.md): Decide on physical or virtual cards for your cardholders.

[Add funds](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/funding/balance.md): Make funds available in your Issuing balance for future card spend.

[Issue cards to connected accounts](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/connect.md): Learn how to issue cards as a Connect platform to third parties represented as connected accounts.

[Manage fraud](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/manage-fraud.md): Understand how fraud can impact your Issuing program and the steps you can take to combat it.

[Test the integration](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/testing.md): Simulate test purchases before going live.

## Virtual and physical cards

[Create virtual cards](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/virtual/issue-cards.md): Create cardholders and issue virtual cards.

[Create physical cards](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/physical/issue-cards.md): Create cardholders and issue physical cards.

[Choose card bundle](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/choose-bundle.md): Select the design for your cards and their packaging.

[Create a design](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/physical/create-design.md): Configure the appearance of your physical cards, such as by adding a company logo, and customize the accompanying content.

[Ship cards](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/physical/ship-cards.md): Learn about shipping options for your cards, such as delivery speeds and bulk shipments.

## Manage cards

[Add cards to digital wallets](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/digital-wallets.md): Spend cards with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.

[Get replacement cards](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/replacements.md): Replace cards that are expired, damaged, lost, or stolen.

[Manage PINs](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/pin-management.md): Let your cardholders manage their personal identification numbers.

## Manage purchases

[Set spending controls](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/controls/spending-controls.md): Set rules on cards and cardholders to control spend.

[Perform real-time authorizations](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/controls/real-time-authorizations.md): Approve or decline authorization requests in real time.

[Handle authorizations](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/purchases/authorizations.md): Learn how to handle partial, incremental, and reversal authorizations.

[Handle transactions](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/purchases/transactions.md): Learn how to handle refunds and other types of transaction captures.

[Dispute transactions](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/purchases/disputes.md): Learn about submitting and tracking disputes.

## Features

- [Flexible spending controls](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/controls/spending-controls.md): Set dynamic spending limits, merchant category restrictions, and geographic controls.

- [Real-time authorizations](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/controls/real-time-authorizations.md): View and control authorization requests as they happen, using webhooks.

- [Digital wallets](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/cards/digital-wallets.md): Add physical or virtual cards to mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay through manual provisioning, in-app push provisioning, or web push provisioning.

- [Multi-currency support](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/global.md): Issue cards in multiple currencies.

- [Automatic reconciliation](https://docs.stripe.com/issuing/categories.md): Simplify accounting with automated transaction categorization.

## Additional resources

[How to earn revenue by issuing cards](https://stripe.com/guides/earn-revenue-by-issuing-cards): Learn the basics of interchange revenue, how it’s calculated, and how Stripe can help you earn revenue.

[Introduction to embedded finance for SaaS platforms](https://stripe.com/guides/introduction-to-embedded-finance): Learn why you should embed financial services in your product, how to evaluate embedded finance solutions, and how Stripe can help.

[Charge card 101](https://stripe.com/guides/charge-cards-101): Learn the ins-and-outs of building a charge card program and how Stripe can help.

[Best practices for building a fintech company](https://stripe.com/guides/building-a-fintech-company): Learn from four startups on how to design, build, and grow a successful fintech company.

[Compliance fundamentals for fintechs in the US](https://stripe.com/guides/overview-of-compliance-fundamentals-for-fintechs-in-us): Learn about the basics of embedded finance compliance for fintechs in the US.

[Bank partnerships for Stripe embedded finance](https://stripe.com/guides/gillian-wee-on-bank-partnership-for-stripe-baas): Learn from Gillian Wee about what the Financial Partnerships team looks for in bank partners at Stripe.

[Merchant category codes (MCCs)](https://stripe.com/guides/merchant-category-codes): Learn what they are and how you can use them to enhance your card program.