logo
payabl. Launches Virtual Business Cards to Empower Smarter Business Spending

payabl. Launches Virtual Business Cards to Empower Smarter Business Spending

FF News02-06-2025
Leading European financial technology provider, payabl. has launched its Virtual Business Cards service, a digital payment solution designed to give businesses greater control, security, and visibility over their spending.
Virtual cards are a digital alternative to physical credit or debit cards, offering real-time issuance, customisable limits, and transparent spending to streamline expense management and enhance financial oversight. Businesses can generate cards instantly, assign them to team members, set spending limits, and freeze/unfreeze access when needed.
Built to simplify B2B payments, payabl.'s Virtual Business Cards are ideal for e-commerce companies needing extra transaction security, start-ups and scale-ups managing supplier budgets and global teams with travel and multi-currency expenses.
The new proposition further strengthens payabl.'s Business Accounts offering and underpins the company's commitment to helping businesses stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving payments landscape.
Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of payabl., said: 'With the launch of our virtual cards service, we're making it easier for companies to take greater control of their payments. From improved oversight of spending, to the ability to set budgets and ensure the highest level of security, payabl. is removing the friction from payments so businesses can focus on what really matters: growing their businesses and better serving their customers and partners.'
payabl.'s virtual cards service has been designed specifically to meet growing merchant demand and usage, with the total volume of virtual card transactions expected to reach 175 billion by 2028, rising from 36 billion in 2023*. The value that virtual cards bring to businesses is evident, with 94% of firms that use them saying their transactions are faster, more detailed, and more secure**.
Breno Oliveira, Head of Product at payabl., added: 'The virtual cards market is booming, with transactions now in the billions and set to rise significantly. While much focus has been on consumer use cases, the value they can bring to businesses in cutting admin time spent on payments and boosting productivity is evident. And at payabl., we're unlocking those benefits for more businesses.'
Card issuance now sits alongside payabl.'s wide range of payment solutions, including card acquiring, local payment methods, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Its Business Accounts enable customers to send, receive, and manage multi-currency payments 24/7/365, with access to an all-in-one dashboard and dedicated client relationship managers.
Companies In This Post
payabl.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Net zero fines ‘may force Vauxhall to shut factories'
Net zero fines ‘may force Vauxhall to shut factories'

Telegraph

time36 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Net zero fines ‘may force Vauxhall to shut factories'

The owner of Vauxhall has warned the carmaker will be forced to close factories in Europe because of tough net zero penalties. Jean-Philippe Imparato, a senior executive at Stellantis, said European Union carbon emission standards would force the business to make 'tough decisions' without changes this year. He said the only way to meet the targets would be to double sales of electric vehicles (EVs), or to scale back production of traditional petrol and diesel cars – known as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Speaking in Italy, Mr Imparato said: 'I have two solutions: either I push like hell [on electric] ... or I close down ICE. And therefore I close down factories.' The EU emission rules are designed to combat man-made climate change and require carmakers to cut the carbon emissions of the vehicles they sell by increasing the proportion that are electric. Those that do not hit the targets risk hefty fines. 'Unreachable' targets Carmakers have been lobbying for the targets to be delayed and relaxed, with the current regime set to be based on their average emissions from 2025 to 2027. On this basis, Stellantis – which owns brands including Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat – fears it could be hit with potential fines of up to €2.5bn (£2.2bn) within two to three years. But Mr Imparato, who is Stellantis's chief of operations in Europe, dismissed the targets as 'unreachable'. Stellantis operates more than 50 factories globally, including around 20 in Europe. Mr Imparato did not say where the company's plant closures might fall but he did at one point mention the Italian van-making plant of Atessa in his remarks. Following the closure of its Luton plant earlier this year, the company's sole assembly plant in Britain is the Ellesmere Port facility near Liverpool. That site is undergoing a major upgrade to become an EV-only plant, with electric production set to begin late next year. A spokesman for Stellantis could not immediately comment on whether Ellesmere Port was at risk. However, the company has made significant investments in the site to produce electric vans. The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently warned that Britain requires 'a whole of government approach to competitiveness' to retain and attract investment from the car industry. 'Electricity costs remain, as we speak, the highest in the world,' said Mike Hawes, the lobby group's chief executive. 'Internationally, we're worst for business rates, amongst the worst for the burden of government regulation. 'With international conditions causing problems beyond our control, it makes sense to ease the burdens we do control ... We need a compelling offer that redefines the UK's appeal as a place to invest.' Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, has vowed that the Government is 'right behind' carmakers after designating them for support in the recent industrial strategy. 'Our collective job is to bring more investment, more product lines and more jobs here,' he said.

Pound falls despite Starmer's reassurances over Reeves's future
Pound falls despite Starmer's reassurances over Reeves's future

Telegraph

time36 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Pound falls despite Starmer's reassurances over Reeves's future

The value of the pound slipped further despite Sir Keir Starmer's assurances that Rachel Reeves will remain as Chancellor 'into the next election'. Sterling dropped nearly 1pc on Wednesday and government borrowing costs surged after the Chancellor shed tears in the Commons and the Prime Minister failed to back her when questioned at the depatch box. He later backed her but the pound and gilt yields – the return the government promises to buyers of its debt – failed to recover from one of the sharpest moves since the Liz Truss mini-Budget crisis. Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz, said: 'The concern in markets is that a new chancellor may not be as committed to the fiscal rules.' In early trading, the pound was last down around 0.1pc against the dollar at $1.364 and was 0.2pc lower versus the euro, which was worth 86.5p. Asked about Ms Reeves's emotional state on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC: 'It was a personal matter for the Chancellor and I've been absolutely clear with you it has got nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with any discussion between me and Rachel, nothing to do with the matters of this week. 'She will be the Chancellor for a very long time to come. She is going to be the chancellor into the next election and for many years afterwards.'

EXCLUSIVE Pink-haired, bikini-clad influencer rakes in £8,000 a month by posting sexy snaps - but all is not as it seems
EXCLUSIVE Pink-haired, bikini-clad influencer rakes in £8,000 a month by posting sexy snaps - but all is not as it seems

Daily Mail​

time43 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Pink-haired, bikini-clad influencer rakes in £8,000 a month by posting sexy snaps - but all is not as it seems

When Aitana Lopez came onto the modelling scene two years ago, her bubblegum pink hair and envious lifestyle immediately made her noteworthy. The 26-year-old is an avid gym-goer, a city hopper and, above all, an AI advocate. When there was criticism of AI models feeding increasingly unrealistic beauty standards, the Barcelona native clapped back: 'Haven't we been creating false realities for years now? 'Filters, edits, alter-egos, carefully crafted realities. Tell me - is your face real? Your photos? Your skin, your hair, your life?' While they may ring true, such words are to be expected from a girl who herself is an AI creation, although this doesn't stop her from bringing in thousands every month from brand deals. Ruben Cruz, founder of AI avatar agency The Clueless, created Aitana out of a frustration with fickle and ego-driven models. When projects were cancelled or put on hold, he discovered the common denominator was the influencer or model hired for the job. So he created Aitana (note the first two letters of her name) and she became Ruben's biggest earner. In her best months she rakes in £8,500 from Instagram posts shared with her 361,000 followers, as well as uploads on Fanvue - an OnlyFans alternative that permits AI content. 'We did it so that we could make a better living and not be dependent on other people who have egos, who have manias or who just want to make a lot of money by posing,' Ruben told Euronews. Indeed, Aitana's upkeep is comparatively easy. A weekly team meeting dictates the next seven days of her life, because 'people follow lives, not images', according to Ruben. So, when she's not travelling or taking selfies, she lies in a database with a swathe of other influencers and models, ready to be bought and used by companies. The agency has received countless requests from brands who not only want to hire an existing AI model, but want their very own made for them. 'They want to have an image that is not a real person and that represents their brand values, so that there are no continuity problems if they have to fire someone or can no longer count on them,' Ruben added. The agency has created a host of models of varying ethnicities, ages and body types - including one that bears a striking resemblance to English actor Ian McKellen. But despite this attempt at inclusivity, the stark majority are made to fit Eurocentric standards of attractiveness. The agency has created a host of models of varying ethnicities, ages and body types - including one that bears a striking resemblance to English actor Ian McKellen (left) Although we are growing more discerning when it comes to recognising AI content, repeated exposure is altering our perception of real women. 'AI models, especially hyper-realistic, always-flattering ones, risk becoming the new fantasy foil in heterosexual relationships,' says clinical sexologist Marie Morice. She told Femail: 'Just like the overconsumption of porn can warp expectations of sex, getting emotionally or visually attached to an idealised digital presence can distort what we value in real-life partners. 'These "perfect" AIs don't get moody, don't have needs, and always validate the user - and that can desensitise people, especially men, to the beautifully messy reality of human connection.' For women, this often means feeling unseen or inadequate, Marie explained, which directly impacts intimacy, desire and confidence in a relationship. But it's not all negative. In some cases, if used correctly, AI can actually enhance sex in relationships. 'There can be a playful, expansive side to AI — especially for women, who are so often left out of the sex tech conversation.' Marie suggested that AI companions might offer a safe space to explore fantasy, rehearse desires, or even spice things up with a virtual threesome. 'Like any tool, it's all about the how and the why we use it. Is it deepening the connection, or replacing it?' Another influencer created by the agency is Lia Byte - a Sinead O'Connor lookalike and a singer who has shared AI baby photos on herself Instagram. Each of the personalities seems to be based on a real-life celebrity. Even where it's not immediately obvious, there is an eerie familiarity to their faces. Relationship therapist Rhian Kivits says heterosexual relationships are seriously impacted when the man follows models on the internet - and whether or not that model is real makes no material difference. She told Femail: 'AI models tend to depict exaggerated feminine features such as larger breasts and hips, more defined, tighter bodies and smaller waists. 'They may also have perfectly balanced facial features or exaggerate features that are thought of as sexy, like big plump lips and large, alluring eyes. 'When your partner is viewing images of women that look "real" but are actually well outside of the norm, his expectations of the way you look, dress and behave in and out of the bedroom may subtly shift and this can put pressure on your intimate relationship.' As well as placing strain on relationships, such tech is contributing to the dehumanisation and objectification of women - both real and fake. 'It's not just the visuals that are the issue here, but the fact that a woman's face and body can be manipulated and used to appeal to the primal, sexual side of men,' Rhian added. 'When men take this attitude on and it's projected into their relationships, they may find themselves raising their expectations unrealistically and projecting their wishes selfishly onto their partner. 'And women may find themselves struggling to self-improve with diet, exercise and inauthentic sexual behaviours, but they can never realistically make the grade.' The Clueless CEO Diana Núñez told Femail: 'We are deeply aware of the debate surrounding representation, sexualization and beauty standards. 'We're committed to broadening the spectrum of representation and highlighting diverse bodies, styles, ages and personalities. 'We think AI can be a powerful tool to spark conversations about expression and perception, as long as it's used responsibly.' Diana said Aitana is still generating income through brand collaborations but she stressed that the agency's goal is to create storytelling tools, not just avatars. 'It's not just about aesthetics. Everything is tailored to the complexity and specific needs of each project. 'We also offer the ability to clone a real person, which opens up a world of possibilities for campaigns and digital presence.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store