Visa is testing how payment systems can support transactions initiated by Artificial Intelligence agents rather than directly by people. Through its “Agentic Ready” programme in Europe, the company is working with banks including Commerzbank and DZ Bank to prepare existing infrastructure for a model in which software agents search for products, make decisions, and complete purchases on behalf of users. The goal is to support secure transactions in cases where an Artificial Intelligence system acts as the initiating party after receiving a goal or a set of rules.
Current payment systems are built around human identity and intent, with card transactions designed to confirm that a person has authorised a purchase. If Artificial Intelligence agents begin initiating payments, banks will need new ways to verify identity and intent at the system level. Visa’s approach envisions software agents handling routine or repeat purchases with limited human input, based on user-defined rules. A system could monitor supply levels, compare prices, and complete a transaction when certain conditions are met. Visa reportedly sees this shift as comparable in significance to the early move toward online payments, which required banks to adapt to a different transaction flow.
Early trials are centered on control and compliance. Commerzbank and DZ Bank are exploring how Artificial Intelligence agents can be integrated into existing systems without disrupting rules around fraud prevention, audit trails, and customer consent. Visa’s work is aimed at infrastructure rather than consumer-facing products, focusing on how payment networks should operate when the “customer” is software. That includes defining how agents are authenticated, how transactions are approved, and how disputes are handled when problems arise. A RepRisk report found that banks are already dealing with more frequent and costly issues linked to Artificial Intelligence. The report states that these incidents can lead to multi-million-dollar losses.
The model could also reshape enterprise purchasing, where procurement often involves multiple approval steps. Artificial Intelligence agents could compress that process by managing routine purchases within set limits, reducing manual work while increasing the need for clear governance over what agents are allowed to do. Financial institutions are already investing in Artificial Intelligence to automate back-office operations and cut costs, while regulators are paying closer attention to decision-making systems in areas such as credit and fraud detection. Visa’s current phase is focused on testing and system design as financial infrastructure adapts to a new kind of user that does not hold a card but can still make a purchase.
