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Network tokens

A network token replaces the card number with a token issued by the card network (Visa, Mastercard). It is linked to the card account rather than to one physical card, so it keeps working after the card is reissued or expires.

Payment Platform creates and uses network tokens for you. Your requests stay the same, and you keep paying with the card_token.

Why use network tokens​

  • Fewer declines on saved cards. When the bank reissues a card, the card network updates the token. Payments with the saved card keep going through without asking the customer for the new card.
  • No card number sent. The acquirer receives the network token instead of the card number.
  • Nothing to build. You do not send any new parameters.

Before you start​

  • Enabled for your account. Network tokens are an optional service. Ask your account manager to enable them and to confirm that your acquirer accepts network tokens.
  • Sales and authorizations only. Network tokens are used for SALE in S2S CARD (including auth=Y) and for purchases through the Checkout Authentication request. DEBIT payments do not use them.

How it works​

  1. You send a sale or an authorization, with card data or with a card_token.
  2. If the card has no network token yet, Payment Platform requests one from the card network and links it to the card's card_token. A card you saved before the service was enabled gets its network token this way the next time you use it.
  3. When a network token is available, Payment Platform sends it to the acquirer instead of the card number.
  4. When the card changes, the card network updates the token. You keep using the same card_token.

What changes in your integration​

AreaWhat you see
RequestsNo change.
card_tokenReturned for card payments even if you did not send req_token.
Payment attributesA payment sent with a network token has source = network. See Payment attributes.
ErrorsIf the card network suspends or deletes a network token, its card_token stops working too. Payments with it fail with error 205006 Card token is expired. Ask the customer to pay with the card data again.

What's next​