BBVA completed the first real transaction initiated by an AI agent on behalf of one of the cardholders. carried out in collaboration Visa (New York Stock Exchange: V), this testing shows that AI systems can now securely process purchases using existing payment networks and live trading systems. This milestone comes as part of Visa’s Agentic Ready program, which is now active globally. Europe.
It involved an actual purchase made with real card credentials through an operational retailer. infrastructure.
The successful result shows that artificial intelligence Intermediaries can process transactions while maintaining basic controls in today’s embedded payments environment.
Security formed the basis of the experiment. BBVA enabled this process through Visa Intelligent Commerce, leveraging proven tools such as tokenization and real-time fraud detection systems to protect card details.
To meet the European Union’s Strong Customer Authentication rules, the transaction also used Visa Payment Passkeys, a biometric authentication approach that allows users to authenticate. payments without passwords or SMS codes. This success confirms that agent-led payments can work effectively in production environments.
Core protections remain intact: Cardholder consent remains centralized and granted banks maintains oversight and all activities comply with current regulatory standards.
By participating, BBVA is helping the industry develop practical insights into delivering these AI-powered experiences at scale and responsibly.
Robert PaganBBVA Spain Head of Consumer Payments emphasized: bankfocuses on improving customer experiences.
He explained that working with Visa through the Agentic Ready program positions BBVA to take part in the next phase of commerce, where AI agents can initiate transactions for cardholders while leveraging already familiar infrastructure with access, security and control capabilities.
Eduardo PrietoVisa’s Country Manager for Spain emphasized the role of the network in maintaining trust.
Issuers, traders and artificial intelligence Transferred to platforms through Visa’s systems, the company supports this new phase of commerce using the same security and oversight mechanisms that are already in place.
The development was highlighted at the Visa Payments Forum in Paris, where real-world examples were shown. I have a representative The acquisitions were made in the retail and travel sectors.
These representatives increasingly support consumers by researching options, comparing options, and finalizing decisions.
According to Visa’s statement research62% of consumers surveyed in Spain currently use AI tools for tasks such as finding gift ideas, researching products and evaluating prices.
As these capabilities mature, agent-initiated payments It is expected to expand into additional use cases.
All future applications will run with clearly defined permissions and oversight to ensure user protection.
This cooperation between BBVA and Visa highlights How financial institutions and payment networks are preparing for a future where AI agents can streamline daily transactions. The focus remains on combining convenience with high standards of safety and compatibility What customers expect.
