Traditional corporate cards are fine... until they’re not.

By Ane Unamuno
Engagement Manager

During a recent business trip to Singapore, I was reminded of how vulnerable corporate payment systems are when things turn bad. 

Midway through the week, my corporate card suddenly stopped working. No warning. No explanation. Just a “card declined” message again and again. 

No problem, I thought. I’ll just generate a virtual card in the business banking app and keep things moving. But that’s when things really went sideways. Unlike my personal bank, which lets me spin up a virtual card in seconds, my business banking app didn’t offer that option. 

With no backup corporate payment method available, I had to fall back on my personal card. It got the job done, but it created a financial and administrative headache I didn’t need. Tracking down receipts, submitting expense claims, chasing reimbursements... 

That small incident underscored a much bigger issue for me: business payment systems aren’t keeping pace with the expectations of modern business travellers. And flexible mobile virtual cards aren’t just a “nice to have” anymore - they’re essential. 

So, what went wrong, and why does it matter? 

Traditional corporate cards are fine... until they’re not. They're still heavily reliant on a physical format, and that creates a range of vulnerabilities: 

• If the card is lost, blocked, or damaged, you’re stuck until a replacement shows up which sometimes can be days later. 

• Using cards abroad can trigger security blocks, leaving travellers high and dry at the worst moments. 

• Many business banking apps don’t offer real-time virtual card generation, which means employees can’t solve problems on the go. 

From a business perspective, these limitations don’t just inconvenience employees. They disrupt plans, create unnecessary friction, and pile on administrative overhead for finance teams. 

The alternative is - at least to me - clear: mobile-first virtual card solutions that give businesses and their employees greater control, flexibility, and security - especially when travelling or working remotely. The best solutions on the market today allow for: 

• Instant virtual card issuance via mobile apps, letting users generate single- or multi-use cards tied to specific spend categories or merchants. 

• Real-time security features, like instant freeze options and customisable spend limits. 

• Reliable global usability, without the geographic or security issues that plague physical cards. 

• Integrated expense management, with real-time transaction data and syncing with reconciliation tools—cutting down on admin time for everyone. 

We’re living in a mobile-first world. Business travel continues to bounce back, and employees expect digital tools that work as seamlessly as the ones they use in their personal lives. If corporate payment systems fall short, it’s not just an inconvenience, it can directly impact productivity and employee satisfaction. 

That experience in Singapore? A pain at the time, but it became a clear reminder of what needs to change. 

So, here’s my advice to payment and financial services leaders: don’t wait for your employees to get stuck overseas (or worse, in front of a client) before making a change. Take a hard look at how your commercial card solutions support (or hinder) modern mobility. And seriously consider mobile virtual card capabilities as a core part of your offering. 

It’s not just about tech. It’s about trust, agility, and keeping your business moving.