Skip to main content
Building a card program with Rain happens in three phases. First you plan and set up your program, then you build it by onboarding cardholders and issuing cards, and finally you run it by managing live transactions, risk, and disputes. Use this page as your roadmap. Each card links to the guide for that step.

​
Phase 1: Plan and set up your program

Before you write any integration code, decide which kind of program you are running and get access to the Dashboard and the API. Set your webhook URL early so you receive events from your very first API call.

Understand the flow of funds

Two setup choices, your program type and your management model, decide who holds collateral and who authorizes and settles.

Set up access

Accept your Dashboard invite and copy your API key and secret from the Config page to authenticate your requests.

Connect webhooks

Set your webhook URL early. The full event catalog and signature verification live in Phase 3, under Manage transactions.

​
Phase 2: Build your program

With access in place, onboard a cardholder, issue their card, fund it, and make the card details available for spending. Use the sandbox to simulate this flow before you go live.

Onboard a cardholder

Submit a KYC or KYB application, then confirm approval by polling the status endpoint or listening for a webhook. See application states for every status and transition.

Issue a card

Create a virtual or physical card, set spending limits, ship and activate physical cards, and add cards to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

Fund the card

Add collateral so the cardholder’s credit limit reflects their available funds. Funding differs for Rain-Managed and Partner-Managed programs.

Access card details

Decrypt a virtual card’s PAN and CVC on the client so the cardholder can start spending.

Test with simulations

Simulate card transactions and collateral funding in the sandbox before you go live.

​
Phase 3: Run your program

Once cards are live, monitor transactions through their lifecycle, enforce your fraud and risk controls, and handle disputes and refunds.

Manage transactions

Follow transactions from authorization to settlement, handle webhook events, and reconcile activity with the reporting data.

Manage fraud and risk

Apply spending limits, block merchant categories, and forward 3-D Secure challenges to your cardholders.

Handle disputes and refunds

File a dispute within the network deadline, track its status through webhooks, and submit supporting evidence.