Card Controls

Why card controls matter

Card controls give businesses more control over where, when, and how company cards can be used.

Instead of relying on a single spending limit, businesses can configure cards with specific rules, including merchant restrictions, spending limits, expiration dates, and employee permissions. This helps reduce unauthorized spending, improve security, and keep purchases aligned with company policies.

The distinction that matters is when the rule is applied. Controls are checked at the moment a charge is attempted, so anything outside the rules is declined rather than flagged for review after the fact. Nothing has to be clawed back.

For agencies and high-growth businesses, card controls also make it easier to manage spending across clients, campaigns, employees, and advertising platforms without relying on shared cards or manual oversight.

Common Uses for Card Controls

Businesses use card controls in many different ways, including:

• Setting spending limits for employees or teams
• Restricting cards to specific merchants
• Controlling advertising platform spend
• Managing client and campaign budgets
• Setting expiration dates for temporary cards
• Limiting vendor and subscription spending
• Separating spending across departments
• Managing employee purchasing permissions

Business example

How Marketing Agencies Use Card Controls

A performance marketing agency managing multiple client advertising accounts can issue dedicated virtual cards with controls for each client or campaign. Each card can have its own spending limit, merchant restrictions, and employee permissions, making it easier to keep client budgets separate, control advertising spend, and reduce unauthorized purchases.