By Sachin Mohan · AIM Media House
Experian announced on May 27, 2026 that Experian Link now delivers real-time debit card verification through a new integration with Fiserv, adding debit card ownership confirmation to a platform that previously focused on credit card and identity verification.
It also addresses a fraud problem that has grown significantly more acute as AI tools have made synthetic identity attacks faster and harder to detect, according to the press release. The timing of the announcement reflects a specific dynamic in merchant fraud prevention in 2026.
Generative AI has lowered the barrier for fraudsters to scale attacks, mimic legitimate consumer behavior, and exploit payment system vulnerabilities at a speed that outpaces traditional detection methods.
The merchant response has had an unintended consequence: more false declines, where legitimate customers are blocked from completing transactions they actually intend to make. That tension is the problem Experian Link is designed to resolve.
By tying a user's digital identity directly to the credit or debit card being presented at checkout, the platform gives merchants a real-time, data-driven view of whether a customer actually owns the card they are using, reducing the need to rely on blunt risk controls that flag legitimate behavior alongside fraudulent behavior.
"As AI accelerates the speed and sophistication of fraud, merchants need precise, instant verification that confirms the customer behind a payment is truly who they say they are without introducing added friction," said Kathleen Peters , Chief Innovation Officer for Fraud and Identity at Experian North America.
The Fiserv Integration Experian Link now leverages VerifyNow Advantage from Fiserv, providing bank account and debit card ownership verification in real time.
Fiserv is the first debit data partner to integrate with Experian Link, extending coverage from credit card transactions into debit, which represents a significant share of everyday consumer payment volume.
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