ACI unveils Connetic for Cards to unify payments ops
ACI Worldwide has launched ACI Connetic for Cards, a card payments modernisation suite within its cloud-native ACI Connetic platform. It brings issuing, acquiring, and ATM and self-service processing into a single modular system.
The product expands ACI Connetic, which combines account-to-account payments, card payments, and AI-driven fraud prevention in one platform. ACI introduced ACI Connetic in 2025 and has added deployments and functions through 2026.
Cards remain the largest payment method by volume despite the growth of real-time payments. Global card transactions totalled 776 billion in 2024 and are projected to reach 1.1 trillion annually in 2029, according to Nilson Report data cited by ACI. That would be a 43% increase over 2024.
Unified processing
ACI Connetic for Cards consolidates processing functions that often run on separate systems inside banks and payment providers. The suite covers card issuing and acquiring, as well as ATM and self-service banking processing.
It supports the full transaction lifecycle, capturing and authenticating payment data across channels, routing transactions to hosts or networks, and handling authorisation and clearing as part of settlement between institutions.
The suite also includes embedded, real-time AI-powered fraud intelligence, along with fraud management and digital identity functions.
ACI said its existing acquiring, issuing, and ATM and self-service products process more than 300 billion card transactions a year. The new suite brings those functions into the ACI Connetic architecture.
Modernisation plans
Banks and payment firms face pressure to refresh card systems as transaction volumes rise and payment types diversify. Many are also trying to standardise operations across account-to-account payments and cards. Cloud-native and API-first designs have become more common in vendor roadmaps and procurement discussions.
ACI positioned the release for institutions assessing whether their current card platforms can meet future demand. It said the suite supports different migration speeds based on each institution's plans.
Thomas Warsop, CEO and President of ACI Worldwide, described the launch as a continuation of the ACI Connetic platform strategy.
"When we introduced ACI Connetic, we set a new benchmark for how banks operate in the digital economy," said Thomas Warsop, CEO and President, ACI Worldwide.
ACI is targeting banks and payment providers that run card issuing, merchant acquiring, and ATM operations. It is also highlighting the platform's ability to run multiple payment types on one system, reducing the integrations needed between separate processing stacks.
Fraud focus
Fraud prevention has become a bigger factor in platform selection as instant transfers speed up funds movement and limit recovery options. Card fraud controls also continue to evolve as more commerce shifts online and contactless usage expands.
ACI said ACI Connetic for Cards embeds fraud and identity intelligence alongside card and account-to-account processing, enabling institutions to modernise systems without increasing operational risk.
"Banks need payments infrastructure that can evolve without elevating risk," said Bill Farris, Head of Issuing and Acquiring at ACI Worldwide. "ACI Connetic for Cards brings card processing and account-to-account payments together on a single, cloud-native platform, enhanced with advanced fraud and identity intelligence to deliver stronger resilience and operational efficiency. This is modern payments infrastructure built to evolve at the pace our customers require without risking stability."
Customer view
Solaris, a banking-as-a-service provider, referenced ACI Connetic in comments about its payments technology stack, citing instant payments and a unified approach across payment types.
"At Solaris, we value both the innovation and the depth of capability delivered through ACI Connetic," said Peter Hüftlein, Head of Product Accounts, Solaris. "The unified, cloud-native approach supports us to simplify operations, accelerate change and innovate across payment types with far greater control. ACI Connetic for our instant payments capabilities gives us a resilient, modern foundation that supports our growth and lets us deliver new customer experiences at speed."
ACI said it expects demand for unified payment platforms to continue as financial institutions streamline payments operations and add services across cards and account-to-account rails.