About us

Who we are

The Smart Payment Association (SPA) is the trade body of the cards and mobile payments industry.

SPA supports the development of a secure, interoperable, and innovative payment ecosystem. It works closely with regulators and standardization bodies to provide expert guidance and contribute to the adoption of current and emerging payment technologies.

Founded in 2004, SPA is a non-economical* organization whose membership covers the full card issuance value chain, from card manufacturing and operating systems to application development, personalization, and post-issuance services. Drawing on the collective expertise of its members, SPA acts as a recognized industry advisor, supporting the transition from traditional payment methods to next-generation solutions while ensuring long-term security and interoperability.

*Terms of § 21 of the BGB (German Civil Code)

What we do

SPA provides a comprehensive portfolio of advisory and advocacy services in support of a secure, interoperable, and innovative payment ecosystem.

It delivers authoritative market insight through its annual analysis of secure payment technology trends, based on manufacturers’ sales data, and through expert technical resources and thought leadership.

SPA represents and defends the interests of its members on regulatory and standardization matters, including certification and security. Through active engagement with global industry bodies and standards organizations, SPA supports best practices and the adoption of international standards.

SPA also supports the evolution of the payments ecosystem through a controlled expansion of its membership across new verticals and geographies.

Outputs from SPA work programs, including white papers and recommendations, are available in the Publications section of the SPA website.

The Industry DNA

Adapting to today’s evolving payments ecosystem requires meeting rising consumer expectations for convenience and innovation.

This demands a deep understanding of emerging use cases, new business models, and a changing regulatory landscape, as well as the development of innovative technologies that create value across the payment value chain.

From operating systems and applications to data processing, personalization, and delivery, the process is complex and interconnected. At its core is a fundamental principle: security by design.

Security shapes the development of hardware, software, and services, ensuring protection at the point of payment across in-store, mobile, and online environments. This end-to-end approach is what makes the industry distinct.

Security is part of our DNA

Working with certification bodies across the world, we ensure that every transaction is protected by the appropriate level of security, according to the demands of our customers and the multiple requirements of domestic and global legislation. Users are identified, authenticated and authorized, and every piece of data is securely managed from the very the beginning, to the very end, of the value chain.

Operating System

Matching issuer’s time to market challenges with the ability to secure, certify and manage multiple operating systems.

Application

Delivering fully certified application security, addressing region-specific regulations and evolving payment applications to add customer value.

Embodiment

Offering security certified ‘clean room’ manufacturing facilities that deliver the form factors to drive today’s pervasive new payment options - from contactless and smartcards, to wallets and wristbands.

Date processing

Protecting information across the value chain; ensuring fully secure ‘mass’ data sharing while supporting migration to next generation payment technologies.

Personalization

Enabling the mass customization of application, form factors and graphical elements to securely address unique customer, consumer and regulatory environments.

Delivery

Assuring secure fulfilment; from physical delivery to over-the-air key and application distribution.

Post Issuance

Delivering thru-life security management and ‘in the field’ application personalization.

Join us

The Smart Payment Association welcomes participation from companies/organizations operating in the payment ecosystem offering them opportunities to participate, contribute and collaborate with the SPA in areas of interest that matter to them.

The SPA offers three types of membership levels (Executive, Full and Associate) and several Advisory Councils linked to a specific workgroup opened to non members, with a variety of benefits, privileges, and annual dues designed to match each organization’s interests and market requirements.

Download the SPA presentation

 

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