Established in 2006, The Card & Payments Awards offer organizations – credit, debit, prepaid, and charge card issuers, their co-branded affinity or retail card partners, merchant acquirers, payment processors, other payments companies, and retailers – the unique opportunity to showcase their latest card and payments-related initiatives and programs to the industry. The awards will recognize, highlight, and celebrate the contributions and successes of those entries that demonstrate strong product development, best practices, innovation, and customer service excellence.

The Card & Payments Awards are open across various categories to credit, debit, prepaid, and charge card issuers, co-brands, merchant acquirers, payment processors, retailers, and other payments companies worldwide that offer programs or initiatives within or from the US markets. There is a range of categories covering key disciplines, offering organizations the opportunity to showcase all their achievements. 

Entries must be in the name of the organization that has the direct interface with the end ‘payer’ or the merchant offering the service. Entries may be prepared by suppliers and other members of the value chain; however, the Award nomination must be in the name of the end consumer or B2B brand and must be authorized by that brand.

Please note that the judges reserve the right to reclassify your entry into a different category if they believe it is more suitable.

The inaugural Card & Payments Awards US will be held in September 2026 in Manhattan.

The timings are as follows (but subject to slight change):

• 18.00 Champagne Reception
• 19.30 Guests seated for dinner
• 20.30 Awards Ceremony
• 23.00 After Show Event: To be announced
• 02.00 Carriages
  

The Awards is strictly a black-tie event. This means formal dinner suits for men and formal evening dresses (or similar) for women.

No one under the age of 21 is permitted to attend the awards. 

The winner of each category will receive:

• A finalist seal to share on social media - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• Social media tile for unlimited usage - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• Digital email seal for unlimited usage - for use for 1 year only from the awards date
• A digital certificate - upon request
  
• A physical Winner's trophy presented on the evening at the Awards
• A magnum bottle of champagne presented on the evening of the Awards, by our Prime Sponsor, TSYS
• Inclusion in the Winner's list on the website
• Listed in the digital winners' magazine shared via mailing and on the website
• Dedicated posts on social media (Instagram & LinkedIn)
• If you would like to use your Awards Winner seal after your first free year, you will need to purchase a license from us to do so, which you can do below ($150).