VBASS Explained: How It Reduces Fraud & Chargebacks

VBASS allows merchants to receive more data for BINs used in a transaction. Such data can help prevent fraud and improve a customer’s experience. Keep reading to learn whether it’s worth using.

I’m always looking for ways to improve my chargeback rates and reduce fraud. I happened to find a program known as VBASS, which I found pretty neat.

So, I’m going to talk about it. I’ll discuss what it is, what data it provides, and how to use said data. From there, I’ll explain how to start using it.

Let’s begin.

Key Takeaways

• Merchants can only sign up for VBASS if sponsored by their acquirer for direct access.
• Pay a fee to access 3 different levels of data.
• VBASS can help reduce false declines and build profiles around fraudsters.
• Sellers can access data from acquirers, processors, or API.

You’ll also want to consider other chargeback prevention tools like alerts. These help prevent customers from filing disputes.

Want to learn more about how these work? Schedule a demo today.

ℹ️ Here’s more information about what these alerts are. And a piece that compares the different alert types.

What is Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service (VBASS)?

Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service (VBASS) is a paid service that lets merchants get more data about their BINs. This data helps sellers cut down on false declines and build profiles around fraudsters.

VBASS is also available to merchants worldwide.

ℹ️ A BIN (Bank Identification Number) is a 6 – 8-digit number card networks use to identify issuers. Learn more about what they are here.

In short:

Gives you more details about BINs.

How Does VBASS Work?

VBASS allows sellers to get details for BINs through one of the following methods:

• Indirect Access: Receive data from a third party.
• Direct Access: Get data from an API.

Let’s see what the differences are between these methods.

1. Indirect Access

Indirect access for VBASS involves receiving your BIN attributes from the following parties:

• Third party: You get BIN attributes from an intermediary that sources data from Visa.
• Acquirer: Your acquirer passes along the BIN attributes they obtained from Visa.
• Service enhanced by BIN attributes: Sponsors/acquirers offer tools that use BIN data for merchants.

This approach gives you easier access if you can’t get the API, but you might not get the most current information.

2. Direct Access

Direct access to VBASS refers to using the VBASS API through the Visa Developer Center to access multiple assets, including:

• Single BIN Lookup: Token, PAN, account range, and BIN details.
• Issuer API: Full acquirer access to BIN data files.
• Full BIN List: Full issuer access to BIN data files.
• BIN Files Returns a list of all BIN data files: All BIN data files, including file names, sizes, checksums, and timestamps, so you know which files to download.
• BIN File Transfer APIs: BIN files by file streaming in CSV format, using metadata to confirm and process files within your system.

The BIN Files metadata list also includes account and token ranges.

You’ll want to go with direct access if you have the resources to do so. I say this because the API updates its data quicker (daily) compared to getting said data from a third party.

ℹ️ If you use the Single BIN Lookup API, check if the card was tokenized in advance for smooth processing.

VBASS Data Levels

VBASS offers the following 3 levels of details about the data you receive:

• Basic: Basic BIN data that has no fee.
• Advanced: Includes key BIN attributes.
• Complete: The most comprehensive option.

Separate fees apply to each. However. As I’ll mention many times in this piece, Visa doesn’t provide this information.

ℹ️ You’ll see “VDP” throughout the following sections. VDP stands for Visa Developer Platform.

1. Basic Level

• Applicable Fees: Free
• Data Provided:
  
  • BIN
  • Minimum and maximum account range for the shopper’s card number
  • Whether multiple issuers share the BIN
  • BIN length (6 or 8 digits)
  • Whether Online Gambling purchases are permitted for this BIN
  • If it’s a Domestic Only BIN

With this basic level of data, you can spot where your shopper’s card comes from and see if it works only in their country.

You’ll also know if the customer uses a shared BIN, which helps you avoid confusion during payment processing.

The account range lets you confirm valid card numbers, and you instantly spot online gambling permission for the card. These details keep you compliant and help you avoid declines or processing errors.

ℹ️ Account range refers to the first 9 digits of the primary account number (PAN). This is a 14 – 19-digit number on credit and debit cards.

2. Advanced Level

• Applicable Fees: One-time VDP implementation fee + annual subscription
• Data Provided:
  
  • Everything in Basic
  • Issuer country code
  • Billing currency
  • If it’s regulated
  • Consumer or commercial BIN
  • Card type: prepaid, debit, or credit
  • Combo card indicator
  • Visa product type (e.g. Visa Infinite or Visa Classic)
  • Tokenization status
  • Settlement Match
  • Brand association with the account range
  • Level 2 or Level 3 interchange qualification

Issuer country code and billing currency help you flag cross-border transactions early. Such data lets you estimate fees, block fraud, and shape the checkout flow for international shoppers. Other data allows you to tailor compliance checks and offer the right promotions.

Seeing if a BIN is regulated, or whether it’s a consumer or commercial card, helps you tailor compliance checks and offer the right promotions or payment options.

ℹ️ Settlement data says whether you can match the BIN to clearing data. Such information helps avoid reconciliation issuers and ensures smoother checkouts.

3. Complete Level

• Applicable Fees: One-time VDP implementation fee + annual subscription
• Data Provided:
  
  • Everything in Basic and advanced
  • Issuer name
  • Reloadable status for prepaid cards
  • Account Level Management participation
  • Visa Account Updater status

With the complete level of data, you can identify the card’s issuing bank by name, which helps you handle customer questions and streamline support.

For prepaid cards, you’ll see if the card can be reloaded, so you can better assess risk or offer tailored services to repeat buyers. You’ll know if the issuer participates in Account Level Management, giving you more control over features like spending limits or card controls when working with business clients.

If the shopper has Visa Account Updater enabled, you won’t have to worry about expired or replaced cards. As you'll always have updated card details. This knowledge helps you keep recurring payments running and reduces failed transactions.

VBASS Delivery Options, Update Frequency, & Integration Methods

Sellers can get VBASS data through one of the following methods:

• Directly to Visa
• API: Ensures Visa provides the most up-to-date BIN Attribute information
  
  • Can take up to 2 weeks to activate
• Your payment processor or acquirer

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If you’re considering using the API, here’s a video that could help you get started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcd0HNjcXtE

Visa will update their BIN list daily. If you download the full list of data, Visa recommends doing so weekly.

ℹ️ You'll need PCI compliance if you’d like to take part in VBASS. Here’s more information on PCI. This part doesn’t apply to merchants.

How Do You Access & Implement VBASS?

Merchants, acquirers, issuers, and other ‘third parties’ can use VBASS. However. Merchants can’t sign up for VBASS unless they’re sponsored by:

• Acquiring bank
• Payment processor
• Third party designated as a sponsor by Visa

If you're a merchant, reach out to Visa to see what third parties could sponsor you. If you have more than one payment processor or acquirer, you'll only need one sponsor. You’ll also only need one sponsor if you operate globally.

You, the seller, also don’t need to sign a contract with Visa. Only your sponsor needs to sign one.

VBASS Pricing

Visa does not list specific prices for VBASS. Public sources say you pay monthly fees or charges based on your access level or your sponsor. Visa does not share details about what factors set these prices for each seller or sponsor.

ℹ️ Visa’s developer FAQ recommends that merchants contact their acquirers for exact pricing.

In short:

It’s not publicly available.

Benefits of Visa BIN Attribute Sharing Service

Here are some of the benefits merchants see when using VBASS:

• Cashback at checkout: Check if a card allows cashback, so you can offer this feature with less effort.
• Better authorization: Get real-time BIN data to approve more purchases and reduce declines.
• Faster customer service: More data available for customer support to fix issues.
• Easier dynamic currency conversion: Spot the card’s currency and offer the right one at checkout.
• Faster checkout: Speed up transactions and avoid holdups from unclear card info.
• Simpler compliance: Legal and regulatory details, so you follow rules and avoid penalties.

These benefits help you lower business costs by cutting fraud and sidestepping fines. They also create a smoother checkout for shoppers by flagging them as real buyers.

Does VBASS Prevent Chargebacks?

VBASS does not block chargebacks on its own, but it gives you more tools to:

• Spot red flags
• Filter risky transactions
• Build profiles on possible fraudsters
• Cut down on false declines
• Gather evidence for chargeback cases
• Speed up customer checkouts

So, why does cutting down on false declines matter? Because Visa reports that businesses lose 3 times more money from false declines than from fraud itself [1].

More issuer details helps build profiles on risky shoppers to fight friendly and third-party fraud. For instance, if bad transactions came from one country, you block the problem county.

ℹ️ Friendly fraud happens when a customer disputes a real purchase. Third-party fraud happens when someone uses stolen payment info to buy something.

Conclusion

VBASS isn’t that accessible to merchants due to needing an API or access from a third party. But… This data can prove helpful if you use it right. As it can help reduce fraud and improve user experience in checkouts. Potentially resulting in more profits and fewer costs.

Chargeback alerts can also help reduce costs that come with disputes. Lower your dispute rate and don’t risk ending up on a payment processor blacklist. Learn how they work here.

Sources

• 1. Visa Data Only for merchants and issuers. Visa. 2024.

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