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The unified orchestration layer for wallets and alternative payments
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The secure repository for all your payment methods
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Workflow-driven payments intelligence for smarter routing and higher auth rates
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A flexible fraud and authentication layer. Instantly add advanced fraud tools and 3DS
One integration to sell inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and every agentic platform
The visual workflow builder that ties fraud, identity, and payment routing together in one place
The unified orchestration layer for wallets and alternative payments
The secure repository for all your payment methods
Workflow-driven payments intelligence for smarter routing and higher auth rates
A flexible fraud and authentication layer. Instantly add advanced fraud tools and 3DS
One integration to sell inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and every agentic platform
The visual workflow builder that ties fraud, identity, and payment routing together in one place
Account Funding Transaction (AFT)
An Account Funding Transaction (AFT) is a specific payment transaction type, defined by card networks such as Visa and Mastercard, that is used to push funds directly to a cardholder's account, as opposed to pulling funds from it in a standard purchase transaction. AFTs are the mechanism for push payments over card rails: sending money to a card rather than charging it.
AFTs are used in a range of payout and disbursement use cases: marketplace seller payouts to a seller's debit card, insurance claim payments, gaming and lottery winnings, peer-to-peer money transfers, earned wage access (immediate access to unpaid wages), and refunds or credit transfers. In each case, the initiating party (a platform, marketplace, or financial institution) uses an AFT to push funds into the recipient's bank account via their card credentials.
The card networks have specific rules governing AFT use, including eligibility requirements for both the originating merchant and the recipient card type. AFTs are most commonly used with Visa's Visa Direct service and Mastercard's Send service, branded push payment products that enable near-real-time fund delivery to eligible cards. In many markets, funds pushed via AFT are available to the recipient within minutes, making it a viable alternative to ACH for time-sensitive disbursements.
Spreedly supports AFTs as a transaction type in its Payments Orchestration Platform, enabling platforms and marketplaces to execute card-based payouts using the same vault tokens and API infrastructure used for payment acceptance, without building a separate payout integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast are funds available after an AFT?
Fund availability depends on the card network, the issuing bank's processing schedules, and the specific AFT product used. Visa Direct and Mastercard Send are designed for near-real-time delivery, with card networks committing to push funds to the issuing bank within 30 minutes in most cases. The issuing bank then makes those funds available to the cardholder, which may happen instantly or may follow the bank's own processing schedule.
What types of cards can receive AFT payouts?
AFT eligibility varies by card type and geography. Visa Debit and Prepaid cards are eligible for Visa Direct in most markets. Mastercard Debit and Prepaid cards are eligible for Mastercard Send.
How does an AFT differ from a standard refund?
A standard refund (credit transaction) reverses a prior purchase, it is linked to an original transaction and returns funds from that transaction. An AFT is an independent transaction that pushes new funds to a card account, not linked to any prior purchase. This makes AFTs suitable for payouts and disbursements that are not connected to a prior charge, paying a gig worker, distributing marketplace earnings, or sending an insurance settlement.
