Cards overview
Understand how single-use virtual cards and multi-use ghost cards work for vendor payouts
A virtual card is a card number Payabli issues to a vendor. The vendor uses it to receive a payout as a card payment instead of an ACH transfer or a mailed check. Virtual card payouts earn interchange, which can turn a merchant’s accounts payable into a revenue stream. For how that revenue is shared, see Payables overview.
Payabli supports two types of virtual cards for Pay Out. They differ in how many times the vendor can use the card and how the card is created.
Single-use virtual cards
A single-use virtual card is tied to a specific payout and can be used only once, for that payment. You create it by passing vcard as the payment method when you authorize a payout, or a vendor can select a virtual card as the payment method through a vendor link. Single-use virtual cards suit one-off or per-invoice payments where each card matches a single amount.
Ghost cards
A ghost card is a multi-use virtual card for paying a specific vendor over time, rather than for a single payout. Ghost cards suit recurring or discretionary vendor spend, with configurable spending limits, usage caps, and merchant restrictions. Only one ghost card can exist per vendor per paypoint.
Choose a card type
Use a single-use virtual card when a payment maps to a specific payout or invoice and shouldn’t be reused. Use a ghost card when a vendor needs an ongoing card for repeated or discretionary spend within limits you set.
Related resources
See these related resources to help you get the most out of Payabli.