Global payments processor Visa (NYSE: V) has announced a definitive agreement to purchase two Argentine payment platforms—Prisma Medios de Pago and Newpay—from private equity firm Advent International. The move represents a major step in strengthening Visa’s operations in one of Latin America’s key markets.
Although the financial terms remain confidential, the transaction is scheduled to finalize during Visa’s fiscal second quarter of 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Prisma Medios de Pago, formed in 2014 by merging Visa Argentina with the Banelco network, ranks among Argentina’s largest card-issuing processors.
It manages credit, debit, and prepaid card processing and handles more than six billion transactions annually on behalf of the country’s banks.
Newpay complements this by delivering multi-network infrastructure, including real-time payment services, operation of the nationwide Banelco ATM network, and management of the widely used PagoMisCuentas bill-payment platform.
By combining these local assets with its global network and advanced service offerings, Visa aims to accelerate the rollout of next-generation payment technologies across Argentina.
The integration will speed up adoption of tokenization for greater security, biometric authentication for seamless user experiences, intelligent risk-management tools, and emerging agentic commerce capabilities that enable more automated and intelligent transaction flows for both consumers and merchants.
The deal marks Visa’s return to deeper involvement in businesses it once co-owned.
In 2019, as part of former President Mauricio Macri’s reforms to foster competition in the payments sector, Advent International acquired a majority stake in Prisma from Visa International and a consortium of 14 Argentine banks in a transaction valued at $1.42 billion.
Advent completed its full ownership in 2022 and later split the business into three specialized units: Prisma for issuer processing, Newpay for infrastructure and access services, and Payway for merchant acquiring. Advent will retain Payway following the current sale.
Visa CEO Ryan McInerney noted that the acquisition will reinforce client relationships and broaden innovation opportunities throughout Argentina.
Gabriela Renaudo, Visa’s Group Country Manager for Argentina and the Southern Cone, added that the investment will drive wider use of digital payments while helping modernize the country’s financial infrastructure.
Argentina’s payments market has long been shaped by economic challenges, including high inflation and traditional reliance on cash.
However, recent years have seen growing momentum toward digital solutions.
This acquisition positions Visa to play a more influential role in that shift, linking its international expertise with scaled domestic platforms to support faster, safer, and more inclusive payment options.
For the broader industry, the transaction highlights continued investor confidence in Argentina’s payments potential despite macroeconomic hurdles.
By securing these critical assets, Visa not only deepens its local presence but also equips the market with tools to handle rising transaction volumes and evolving consumer demands.
As the deal advances toward completion, stakeholders anticipate enhanced competition and technological upgrades that could benefit banks, businesses, and everyday users.
The strategic purchase underscores Visa’s long-term commitment to emerging markets where digital transformation potentially enables significant growth.