The new features aim to simplify virtual card deployment while improving visibility and control across the payment lifecycle.
As businesses continue to digitise commercial payments, demand is growing for solutions that can improve security while reducing operational complexity. Responding to that trend, Mastercard has introduced a series of enhancements to Mastercard In Control, its virtual card platform, adding new tools that strengthen payment controls and simplify access to digital payment capabilities.
According to the company, Citi will be the first issuer to roll out the new features globally.
The enhanced platform allows organisations to apply multiple control settings at the real-card level, enabling security policies to be enforced consistently across all associated virtual cards and transactions without exposing sensitive payment credentials. The new controls are designed to help businesses reduce fraud risk while improving oversight throughout the payment process.
Mastercard has also expanded its embedded payments network, allowing customers to connect to a broader ecosystem of payment partners through a single integration. The company said the approach is intended to provide enterprises, financial institutions and technology platforms with greater flexibility as they scale their payment operations.
The latest enhancements build on Mastercard's existing virtual card network, which now supports issuers, corporate customers and payment platforms across 43 countries and territories, including 14 markets in Asia Pacific, with transactions conducted in 174 currencies.
"Across Asia Pacific, where many of the world's largest trade corridors intersect, businesses are not only digitising payments but also looking for better ways to manage supplier relationships and working capital across increasingly complex cross-border operations," said Anouska Ladds, Executive Vice President, Commercial and New Payment Flows, Asia Pacific, Mastercard.
She said virtual cards enable finance and procurement teams to introduce greater flexibility into supplier payments while maintaining strong security controls, making them an increasingly important payment tool for businesses operating across multiple markets.
Another key addition is the Commercial Connect API, which Mastercard said enables customers to create virtual cards and initiate payments through a single integration. By consolidating these functions into one API, the platform is expected to reduce implementation time and simplify system integration for businesses.
The company cited industry research showing that 69% of organisations face challenges integrating payment systems with their broader business infrastructure. By offering a unified platform that combines virtual card issuance, payment initiation and embedded payment capabilities, Mastercard aims to help customers reduce technical complexity, accelerate deployment and improve operational efficiency.
The announcement reflects broader efforts within the payments industry to develop secure, scalable digital solutions for commercial transactions. As businesses expand across markets and supply chains become more interconnected, demand for payment technologies that support stronger financial controls and more efficient cross-border operations is expected to continue growing.
